Video footage from Saturday showed Russian soldiers deploying with heavy flamethrower systems into Ukraine.
Reporter Frederik Pleitgen tweeted a video Saturday of the artillery. “The Russian army has deployed the TOS-1 heavy flamethrower which shoots thermobaric rockets, the was South of Belgorod,” Pleitgen’s caption read.
The russian army has deployed the TOS-1 heavy flamethrower which shoots thermobaric rockets, the was South of Belgorod. pic.twitter.com/XCxMI3bNB3
— Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) February 26, 2022
“Rather grim intelligence briefings today on fears that Russians frustrated by unexpected resistance will unleash thermobaric weapons and indiscriminate shelling on Kyiv in a bid to break through with horrific consequences for civilians,” reporter Catherine Philp tweeted Saturday. “This is grim news if you’ve followed Russia’s military conduct in Syria and its use of these weapons in place like Aleppo. These are not weapons to be used on civilian populated centres. We are looking at war crimes.”
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this is grim news if you’ve followed Russia’s military conduct in Syria and its use of these weapons in place like Aleppo. These are not weapons to be used on civilian populated centres. We are looking at war crimes. 2/2
— Catherine Philp (@scribblercat) February 25, 2022
“Thermobaric bombs are known as vacuum bombs. They suck oxygen into the blast and can cause awful internal injuries, especially to the lungs,” Philp said. “We have seen this before from Russia, especially in Aleppo, Syria.”
Author Chris Woolf similarly worried the weapon would be used on civilians. “This weapon has the capacity to fry and destroy whole city blocks. Range up to 3500 [meters],” Woolf tweeted. “It’s on the road to Kharkiv. Pray it never gets there. God save Ukraine. God damn Putin.”
This weapon has the capacity to fry and destroy whole city blocks. Range up to 3500m. It’s on the road to Kharkiv. Pray it never gets there. God save Ukraine. God damn Putin. https://t.co/0ocAsQaRcQ
— Chris Woolf (@CCWoolf) February 26, 2022
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There aren’t reports that the Russians have used the flamethrowers in Ukraine yet.
