People remove debris at the site of a military base building that, according to the Ukrainian ground forces, was destroyed by an air strike, in the town of Okhtyrka
(Picture: via REUTERS)The Ministry of Defence says Russia has confirmed the use of thermobaric rockets – often called vacuum bombs – in Ukraine and is also deploying conscript troops.
The MoD said its Russian counterpart had confirmed the use of thermobaric rockets creating “incendiary and blast effects” in the invasion.
A video posted to Twitter by the MoD said the weapons were used by Russia in both Afghanistan and Chechnya.
Thermobaric weapons are not illegal but their use is strictly regulated, MoD said.
In its latest intelligence update on Thursday, the MoD said Russia has deployed conscript troops to Ukraine and said Vladimir Putin will have to draw from across his forces “and other sources to replace his losses”.
The Russian MoD has confirmed the use of the TOS-1A weapon system in Ukraine. The TOS-1A uses thermobaric rockets, creating incendiary and blast effects.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 9, 2022
Watch the video below for more information about this weapon and its devastating impact.
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/d8PLQ0PhQD
Russia earlier admitted that conscript soldiers had been sent into Ukraine and that some have been captured by Ukrainian troops.
The admission came after President Vladimir Putin vowed that conscripts would not be deployed and that Russian forces would rely on professional troops.
Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that “unfortunately there have been detected several instances of the presence of conscript-service military personnel” with units in Ukraine but that “almost all” of them had been recalled to Russia.
He added that some conscripts were taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces while serving in a logistics unit and efforts are under way to free them. Maj Gen Konashenkov did not specify how many conscripts had served in Ukraine or how many were captured.
It comes as the MoD said the Russian state “almost certainly maintains extensive links” with Russian private military companies (PMCs) and is “likely deploying” their mercenaries to Ukraine.
“Russian PMCs have been accused of committing human rights abuses in several countries, such as Syria, Libya and the Central African Republic, whilst operating on behalf of the Russian state,” the MoD said.
