Intense video footage has captured the moment when a “flamethrower” drone was used by Ukrainian forces to burn out Russian troops from a tree line. The clip was posted on Telegram by Ukraine’s 108th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and showed the drone blasting out flames where the Russian forces were believed to be located. Thick smoke could be seen billowing from the tree line as the drone obliterated the area, although it was not clear where or when the footage was shot.
Military bloggers in Ukraine claimed on social media that the drone was spewing out thermite during the attack. Thermite, a mix of metal powder and metal oxide, has become a favored explosive among the Ukrainian military during the ongoing war. This incendiary has the capability to burn at 4,000 Fahrenheit and can sear through metal and concrete, making it a powerful weapon. In the past, thermite has been used to destroy Russian vehicles and other military targets.
The footage of the drone attack, while unable to be immediately verified, came after Ukraine launched a massive 158-drone barrage against Russia, resulting in a large fire at a major oil refinery in Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the attack, which was one of the largest from Kyiv since the start of the war, with 15 regions being targeted. However, Russia stated that all drones were intercepted and that there were no successful strikes from the attack.
Two drones shot down over Moscow ended up crashing into a Gazprom oil refinery, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The air attack occurred in retaliation for Russia’s large missile and drone barrage last week, during which more than 200 projectiles were fired at half of Ukraine’s regions. In response to this attack, Ukraine vowed to retaliate, leading to the drone barrage against Russia as tensions continued to escalate between the two countries.
Both Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in a conflict that has seen the use of various weapons and tactics by both sides. The use of drones, missiles, and other weaponry has become increasingly common, as each side seeks to gain an advantage in the ongoing war. The use of thermite and other incendiaries has been a signature tactic of the Ukrainian military, which has used these explosives to destroy Russian vehicles and other strategic targets.
As the conflict continues, both sides have shown a willingness to escalate the use of force and employ new tactics in an effort to gain an advantage. The footage of the drone attack highlights the intensity of the conflict and the lengths to which both sides are willing to go in order to achieve their objectives. The use of drones and other advanced weaponry has transformed the battlefield and made the conflict between Ukraine and Russia increasingly deadly and destructive.
