Russian forces employ deceptive drones and thermobaric warheads in attacks on Ukraine
Photo: Southern Defense Forces
During the assaults on Ukraine, the Russian army started deploying decoy drones that mimic Shahed drones. Furthermore, they have also been utilizing a thermobaric warhead on Shahed–136 drones, greatly amplifying the danger posed during attacks on buildings.
Defense Express and CNN reported that, citing the temporary acting head of the communications department of the Air Force of Ukraine's armed forces, Yurii Ihnat.
As reported by the publication, there has been a significant increase in the number of strikes, and the enemy is now utilizing decoy drones without warheads to bypass Ukraine's air defense.
"The decoy drones carry a 3D-printed bullet wrapped in foil. It imitates the warhead of the Iranian Shahed-136 drone," Ihnat said.
He says that these less expensive drones are tricking the Ukrainian air defense, causing them to mistakenly target fake drones rather than the ones carrying dangerous warheads.
"Now decoy drones make up almost half of all Russian drones launched in Ukraine," the military officer said.
However, Russia started using thermobaric warheads on Shahed–136 drones, which significantly increases the danger of on-site attacks.
It's about the TB BCh-50 warhead, which was initially revealed in April 2024. However, the enemy has recently started using the modified version more frequently.
Information about the BCh-50's warhead component was revealed through the hacking of servers belonging to the Russian company Alabuga in Tatarstan, where the drones are produced and upgraded.
The thermobaric warhead of the TB BCh-50 weighs 52.4 kg and has a double effect:
- thermobaric,
- fragmentary.
In addition to the powerful explosion that creates a high-temperature wave, it contains 2,306 striking elements in the form of 9 mm diameter balls, which increases its destructive power.
In contemporary one-shot ammunition, the explosion sets off a blast wave that propels the thermobaric mixture once the trigger is pulled. This mixture reacts with the air and itself, creating a "fire cloud" that can reach temperatures between 2400 and 2600 degrees. This intense heat cloud then spreads throughout the surrounding space. The accompanying shock wave can harm bodily organs, including the lungs, ears, and other tissues.
In detonating a thermobaric warhead in a residential area, it is much more difficult to defend against its action. The fire cloud created by the explosion will fill the entire apartment area, covering all rooms, and its high temperature and shock wave can cause fatal damage.
However, when utilizing high-explosive munitions, there is a possibility of preventing severe harm by adhering to the "two walls" guideline.
Therefore, it is recommended to implement an additional rule along with the established belief that in the event of being unable to access a shelter, one should seek refuge in a room with at least two walls separating it from the street and close the interior door. This precautionary measure will help minimize the dissemination of the thermobaric mixture within the enclosed space.
Either way, the best way to protect yourself is to stay sheltered.
For reference:
Russian troops are consistently launching drone attacks on Ukraine, with the Russian Federation primarily deploying Shahe drones during shelling.
Recently, during attacks, air defense began to shoot down UAVs of an unknown type. Moreover, for example, on November 3, during the attack on Kyiv, Russian drones flew at very low altitudes.
According to the president's report, Russia has launched over 900 bombs and around 30 missiles, as well as nearly 500 Shahed drones, targeting multiple regions of Ukraine in the past week.
In October, the Russians released more than 2,000 Shahed UAVs against Ukraine.
It should be noted that on the night of November 8, Russian troops resorted to another massive drone attack. Air defenses managed to destroy 62 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and shoot down four Russian Kh-59/69 guided air missiles.
It should be noted that the Russians are constantly changing their drone attack tactics.
