What is a vacuum bomb?

UKRAINE claims a vacuum bomb was used in a Russian attack.

The high-powered weapon uses the atmosphere to create a deadly explosion – and it can be lethal to anyone near its detonation.

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What is a vacuum bomb?

Vacuum bombs are also known as thermobaric weapons.

It uses the oxygen of the surrounding air to create a high-temperature explosion.

The resulting explosive wave is considerably longer than that of typical concentrated explosives.

They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed.

Thermoelectric weapons are almost 100% fuel and produce a much more energetic explosion than many conventional explosives.

How deadly are vacuum bombs?

Vacuum bombs can vaporize people at close range and can crush internal organs.

As oxygen is sucked out of the atmosphere, rapid heat gain can occur even in remote locations.

Thermoelectric weapons can destroy buildings and are effective at destroying defensive positions.

In 2017, the US dropped a 21,600-pound thermobaric bomb on the Taliban in Afghanistan.

It exploded six feet above the ground and left a crater more than 300 meters wide.

Which countries have vacuum bombs?

Thermobaric weapons were developed by the Soviet Union and the United States in the 1960s.

Russia created an explosion equivalent to 39.9 tons in September 2007 when it detonated its largest-ever thermobaric weapon.

Fears that Russia will use thermobaric weapons on Ukraine are growing after Putin launched his deadly invasion.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova said Russia used vacuum bombs in the early stages of the war.

After briefing members of the US congress on February 28, she said: “They used vacuum bombs today, which is actually banned by the Geneva convention.

“The devastation Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is massive.”

The White House press secretary said that if Russia used cluster bombs and vacuum bombs against Ukrainian civilians, it would be “potentially a war crime”.

Dr Marcus Hellyer, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said Guardians It is yet to be confirmed if one of these has been deployed, but it is only “a matter of time”.