Russia’s most deadly weapons – thermobaric vacuum bomb, nukes and cluster munitions – World News

Russia’s military seems to have already used some of its most deadly weapons, according to reports. They include claims of alleged war crimes on the Ukrainian people by the Russian state

Russia’s military is one of the most advanced forces on Earth and includes some terrifyingly deadly weapons.

One, known as a thermobaric vacuum bomb, is of particular concern, even as Vladimir Putin places his deterrent troops – which includes nuclear weapons – on high alert.

When Putin announced the invasion of Ukraine last week, few expected successful resistance for so long.

As fierce resistance continues, it appears Putin’s troops are resorting to more extreme measures, including heavy bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Russian forces struck Independence Square in central Kharkiv on Tuesday morning, causing a huge explosion.

Having promised that civilians would not be targeted, reports seem to indicate that indiscriminate bombing is taking place as Putin attempts to grind down Ukrainian resistance.

The shelling has also caused a wave of migration westwards, as desperate families seek shelter outside of the country.

As there appears to be a link between ongoing resistance by Ukrainian armed forces and the lengths Putin will go to destroy it, there is concern that more deadly weapons will be used.

What is a vacuum bomb?

One of the weapons there is most concern about is the vacuum bomb, which sucks in oxygen to create a high-temperature explosion.

Ukrainian ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova claimed the bomb has already been used in the invasion, though this has not yet been confirmed and the ambassador gave no indication as to where it had been used.

She said: “They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva Convention.”

Vacuum bombs are known as some of the most deadly non-nuclear weapons in existence. They suck in the surrounding air, creating a massive explosion and blast wave said to be capable of vaporising human bodies.

A CIA study said of the bombs: “Those at the fringe are likely to suffer many internal, thus invisible injuries, including burst eardrums and crushed inner ear organs, severe concussions, ruptured lungs and internal organs, and possibly blindness.”

The White House Press Secretary said if the ambassador’s claims are indeed true, then the act of using them would be a “war crime”.

However, The Guardian was told that the bombs are indeed legal.

A senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Dr Marcus Hellyer, said: “They are not illegal even though their effects can be pretty horrific, because of that effect of creating a vacuum and sucking the air out of the lungs of defenders.”

Will Russia use nuclear weapons?

Evidence that Russia plans to actually use its nuclear weapons is currently non-existent and there are no indications whatsoever that Russia will use them in future.

Upon announcing his invasion, Putin said: “People should know Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to consequences you have never encountered in your history.”

Some experts took this to mean that the threat of nuclear weapons is “on the table” at least.

Fiona Hill is a former presidential adviser and wrote a biography of Putin. Speaking to Politico, she said: “Basically, what President Putin has said quite explicitly in recent days is that if anybody interferes in Ukraine, they will be met with a response that they’ve “never had in [their] history.” And he has put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert.

“So he’s making it very clear that nuclear is on the table.”

Joachim Krause, academic director of the Institute for Security Policy at Germany’s Kiel University, told Fortune: “It’s psychological warfare, but we have to see what’s really coming out of this.”

What are cluster bombs?

Cluster bombs scatter smaller munitions over a wider area.

Amnesty International claims these were used in an attack on a pre-school in Okhtyrka, Northeastern Ukraine.

It said: “A 220mm Uragan rocket dropped cluster munitions on the Sonechko nursery and kindergarten in the town of Okhtyrka in Sumy Oblast.”

Three people were reportedly killed in the attack, including one child, with another child injured.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, said: “There is no possible justification for dropping cluster munitions in populated areas, let alone near a school.”

Putin claimed that civilian casualties would be avoided when his invasion into Ukraine began, but appears to have used cluster bombs on the city of Kharkiv, according to experts.

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