DID RUSSIA JUST USE A VACUUM BOMB?


By bblouin
vacuum bomb missiles

When it comes to explosives, there are a ton of different things out there that can make you and the world around you go BOOM! It’s an expansive field in which the world is finding new, terrifying ways to make explosions work on the battlefield to obliterate the enemy. But vacuum bombs are far from new, even if they are a part of modern warfare. Since World War I, the use of the vacuum bomb in some form has been on the table in many different conflicts. Now, Russia is being accused of using one during its invasion of Ukraine. Suggested read:Ukraine and Russia WWI Treaty Casts Large Shadow Amid Current Crisis

What Is a Vacuum Bomb?

The vacuum bomb goes by many names, including thermobaric bomb or aerosol bomb. They will suck the oxygen out of an area, including the lungs of those near the explosion, use fuel containers with multiple charges to spread fuel throughout the air, and then ignite it. Suffice to say, they're very controversial. Vacuum bombs are made with a ton of fuel and create explosions that are high in temperature. Thermobaric vacuum bombs come in different shapes and sizes. The most famous example of vacuum bombs is the Russian thermobaric vacuum bomb known as the Father of All Bombs (FOAB). Officially named the Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power, it gets its nickname as a nod to the American MOAB (Mother of All Bombs), which it has claimed to surpass. The FOAB was successfully tested by Russia in 2007. Though there have been some reports of Russia using the FOAB in Syria during 2017, confirmed reports remain elusive. There is also skepticism surrounding the tests alleged by Russians, including the authenticity of a released video as well as the explosive yield such weapons can produce. But there are two things that are for sure no matter where you stand on the metrics. First, Russia is interested in using vacuum bombs and has the capability to create such weapons. Second, the FOAB creates an undeniably devastating explosion, as all vacuum bombs do.

Can Russia Use a Thermobaric Weapon?

Russia's alleged vacuum bomb use in Ukraine was brought up by British officials as well as the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. The use of a vacuum bomb in Ukraine opens up a can of worms, and, in a much more literal sense, it could open up an actual arms race between Russia and NATO members. [embed]https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1501621370614173701[/embed] The developments are disturbing for a number of reasons. Anything that increases the chance of nations looking for larger arsenals of massive exploding devices is never a good sign. Such devastation and concern may make you wonder, is the use of thermobaric weapons lawful during a war? Yes and no. The fact remains that vacuum bombs are completely legal on the battlefield. But there have been many people opposed to their use and controversies surrounding them. Despite such concerns and outcry, international law allows their use as means of war. Where Russia could get in trouble is if evidence is found that it is using vacuum bombs against civilians. Both the United Nations (UN) and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) prohibit the use of a thermobaric weapon against civilians. This is a relevant factor, as Russia has already been accused of numerous war crimes due during its war in Ukraine.

Vacuum Bombs Are the Latest Chapter in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

At this point, nothing seems to be off the table for Russia, and that is not a good place to be. Though the United States has yet to directly enter the war, and it would take a considerable attack from Russia (likely against a NATO member) to make this a reality, there are still mounting concerns about the lengths that Russia is willing to go to in order to secure victory. The invasion of Ukraine was supposed to be a quick military exercise, but it has grown into a longer-than-expected war that is beginning to hamper morale among Russian forces due to a stout defensive effort put up by the Ukrainian people. The Biden administration has even said that, due to such resistance, even biological and chemical weapons could come into play. If Russia used a vacuum bomb during its battle in Donbas, it is well within its rights, so long as the attack was against military personnel and not civilians. Still, the alleged use of such devastating weaponry is a stark reminder of the brutality that war can bring and how thankful many Americans should be to not fully understand such horrors thanks to the service and sacrifice of our military members and Veterans. More like this:Should We Be Worried About Russian Military Strength?


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