A video shared on Twitter by CNN correspondent Frederik Pleitgen shows that the Russians have used heavy military transport to transport the Russian artillery weapon “TOS-1” to the border with Ukraine.
The photos were taken south of the Russian city of Belgorod, which is only 40 kilometers north of the border.
According to one of the world’s most popular weapons websites, Military Today, the weapon shall be a form of flamethrower system, which is intended as direct fire support for infantry and tanks.
– TOS-1 is used to exterminate buildings, fortresses and bunkers. The weapon is also extremely effective against light, armored vehicles, the website writes.
The system initially had 30 launch tubes, but this has recently been reduced to 24. The rockets used weigh 173 and 217 kilos, respectively, and have a range from 400 meters to six kilometers.
ON THE WAY: Here, “TOS-1” is transported to the Ukrainian border. Photo: @fpleitgenCNN / Twitter
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– Cruel consequences
According to CNN There is currently no evidence that the weapons system was used during the war in Ukraine, but if it is used, it could have dire consequences.
The channel writes that the ammunition used is so-called “high-pressure explosives” and that they are sometimes called “vacuum bombs”.
The reason for this is that the ammunition sucks in oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a powerful explosion and a large pressure wave that can have enormous destructive effects.
According to Human Rights Watch, similar weapons have previously been used in Chechnya. The use of weapons has also been condemned by a number of NGOs.
– IN USE: A video from CNN journalist Frederik Pleitgen shows that the Russians have TOS-1 with them to Ukraine. Here from a presentation in 2013. Photo: Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters / NTB
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– Great effect
Lieutenant Colonel and expert in military strategy at the War School, Palle Ydstebø, confirms to Dagbladet that this is a weapon that has been used by the Russians for a long time.
– During the war in Donbass in 2014, it was used with great effect. Especially in the beginning, when Ukrainians were not prepared, it led to enormous damage. Among other things, a number of soldiers were exposed to burns.
Ydstebø then confirms that the weapon is a so-called thermobaric weapon. This means that the ammunition contains a form of petrol mixture, which spreads out like a cloud and explodes with enormous heat and shock effect.
– KNOWN WEAPON: Palle Ydstebø, lieutenant colonel and expert in military strategy at the War School, confirms to Dagbladet that the Russians use the weapon TOS-1. Photo: The Armed Forces
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He then explains that what is special about the weapon system is that it is mounted on top of a tank, and that it does not have a terribly long range.
– You can compare it to a “Stalin organ”, the lieutenant colonel explains.
The «Stalin organ» is according to Large Norwegian encyclopedia a term for a Soviet missile weapon used during World War II. By mounting several launch rails on a vehicle, one could fire up to 40 grenades simultaneously against the same target. They made a distinctive sound, hence the organ name.
– Do you know how many of these weapons the Russians have available?
– No, but I would assume that they have enough for what they need in Ukraine now.
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