Thermobaric weapons, also known as vacuum bombs, use metal powder to create a fireball that spreads rapidly around itself. According to international law, these weapons may only be used against military targets, not against civilians.
Reports are coming from Ukraine that Russia is using vacuum bombs to invade the country. The first message about this came from Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States. There are also online images from Ukraine of Russian vehicles specialized in launching these bombs. It has not yet been confirmed whether the weapons were indeed deployed.
According to Marc Garlasco, an adviser to the Netherlands-based peace organization PAX, the use of thermobaric weapons in populated areas is a violation of international humanitarian law†
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Fireball and vacuum
Normal explosives consist of molecules that disintegrate when ignited. This releases energy. In contrast, vacuum bombs are metal powders that burn in the air. This creates a rapidly growing fireball, with a devastating shock wave at the front.
Thermobaric explosives are also called vacuum bombs, because a low-pressure area is created where the explosion starts. It sucks material back in after the shock wave has passed. The push-and-pull effect does a lot of damage to buildings. Yet the most devastating effect of the weapons is due to the outward pressure wave, which lasts for a long time.
This one is much more dangerous than the short blast of regular explosives. Vacuum bombs also cause typical injuries, usually in the lungs, where the pressure wave can destroy fragile alveoli or cause artery occlusion. Fatal victims often show no external injuries.
Plus, a thermobaric blast could be around the corner. This makes these weapons efficient against bunkers, trenches and tunnels, which would provide shelter in a normal detonation.
TOS-1 Buratino
Images of Ukrainian civilians appear to indicate that Russia has deployed the TOS-1 Buratino, a vehicle equipped with 24 thermobaric missiles. One salvo from a TOS-1 covers an area of 200 by 300 meters.
“Russia has previously used thermobaric weapons against towns and villages in Syria, causing widespread civilian casualties,” said Garlasco, who studies the effects of explosive weapons on civilian areas. As an example, he cites Russian attacks in 2018 in Eastern Ghouta, which allegedly used unguided thermobaric missiles. Dozens of civilians lost their lives.
Garlasco says international humanitarian law requires weapons to be used only against military targets. The seriousness of the weapon must be in proportion to the possible military gain.
“It’s hard to justify using the TOS-1 in a city,” Garlasco says. He calls the vehicle “a war crime on caterpillars.”
Civilian casualties
Garlasco mentions that the West has also used thermobaric weapons, in Iraq and elsewhere. However, these bombs were smaller and were used against specific military targets, such as caves and specific locations in built-up areas.
“The TOS-1 is a territory-effect missile that can cause widespread death and destruction in cities and towns. Such weapons should never be used in areas with many civilians because of the risk of casualties,” Garlasco said.