In a troubling escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, videos circulating on social media suggest that Russian forces may have unleashed a devastating vacuum bomb, known as the ODAB-9000, on the city of Vovchansk. This bomb, often referred to as the "father of all bombs," is said to possess explosive power equivalent to 44 tons of TNT, resulting in catastrophic destruction. While some military bloggers claim the explosion's magnitude confirms the use of this formidable weapon, Ukrainian sources raise doubts, suggesting that the blast may have originated from a smaller device. As the situation unfolds, the implications of such weaponry in populated areas raise serious concerns regarding potential war crimes and humanitarian impacts.
RE: According to videos circulating on social media, Russian forces may have dropped a massive vacuum bomb, known as the “father of all bombs,” on the Ukrainian city of Vovchansk. The Ukrainian InsiderUA news agency shared the footage on its Telegram channel, citing Russian military bloggers’ claims that the spectacular explosion in the footage could have been caused by the ODAB-9000, a 7,100-kilogram glide bomb, also known as the “father of all bombs.”
The bomb is so massive, that the thermobaric explosion caused by the aerosol charge equates to the destructive power of 44 tons of TNT.
In Volchansk, the #Russians used the ODAB-9000 vacuum bomb for the first time. The media calls this bomb one of the most powerful non-#nuclear weapons in the world. The estimated mass of the explosive is 7100 kg. Although there is little official data on this ammunition. pic.twitter.com/tPuI4Jk7Vo
— Ninjamonkey 🇮🇳 (@Aryan_warlord) October 3, 2024
However, some Ukrainian sources contradict these claims, claiming that the footage shows the impact of a smaller ODAB-3000 thermobaric bomb. According to the spokesman of the operational and tactical unit in Kharkiv, Vitaly Sarantsev, the explosion was not caused by a vacuum bomb, and the purpose of the Russian rumors was to demoralize the Ukrainian troops.
“The use of this munition requires a suitable carrier, which in theory could be a Tu-160 strategic bomber, but the movement of such an aircraft has not been recorded,” Szarancev argued.
Thermobaric, also known as vacuum bombs, use oxygen to cause intense, high-temperature explosions. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the use of such weapons in populated areas may constitute a war crime.
Independent experts cannot yet confirm exactly which type of bomb was used, but the use of thermobaric weapons in Ukraine is not at all unusual for the Russians. Sidharth Kaushal, an employee of the Royal United Services Institute Sea Power research institute told Newsweek that Russia is trying to weaken Ukraine’s defense capabilities with increasing airstrike activity, especially as winter approaches.
However, the entire city of Vovchansk has been subjected to intense bombing from the Russian side, leaving most of the city in ruins. Other videos show smaller bombs being dropped as well on the destroyed landscape, including 1,500-kilogram bombs.
In the last 24 hours alone, two people were killed and 41 were injured in Russian airstrikes in several parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian news portal Kyiv Independent reports. According to an air force report, 15 of Ukraine’s 24 regions were attacked.
As of October 4, 2024, ongoing reports indicate that Russian airstrikes have intensified across various regions of Ukraine, with the Ukrainian news portal Kyiv Independent reporting two fatalities and 41 injuries in just 24 hours. The use of thermobaric weapons, including the alleged ODAB-9000, has been scrutinized by international observers, as these munitions are notorious for their destructive capabilities and potential violation of humanitarian law. Experts suggest that Russia's increased aerial bombardment aims to undermine Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as winter approaches, raising fears of further devastation in the already ravaged regions.
