Russia ‘uses thermobaric warheads’ as Ukraine urges NATO to supply similar weapons – World News

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry says Russia is using a TOS-1 multiple rocket launcher to hit targets with the catastrophic weapons amid the attack in Donbass and has urged NATO to take similar action

Russian forces have reportedly used catastrophic thermobaric warheads to blow up Ukrainian positions – and the defending military is now calling on NATO to urgently supply it with similar weapons.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry (MoD) said the Russians used a TOS-1 multiple rocket launcher to attack Ukrainian targets near Novomykhailivka in the eastern region of Donetsk Oblast.

The terrifying 30-barreled or 24-barreled multiple rocket launcher is capable of firing thermobaric warheads, a type of explosive that uses ambient oxygen to create a high-temperature blast.

Ukraine has called the invasion of Moscow the “greatest and most horrific war of the 21st century” and called on NATO to urgently equip its armed forces with similar multi-launch missile systems.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Friday: “Russian TOS-1 missiles are shelling Ukrainian positions near Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region.

“This is what the biggest and most terrible war of the 21st century looks like. Ukraine is ready to strike back. To do this, we need NATO-style MLRS [Multiple Launch Rocket Systems]. Right away!”

dr Marcus Hellyer, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the thermobaric weapons had been effective in their “specific purpose” which was “primarily to destroy defensive positions”.

Speak with the guardHe added: “They are not illegal, although their effects can be quite terrible because they create a vacuum and suck the air out of defenders’ lungs.”

As his barbarism deepens, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree making it easier for Ukrainians in the occupied territories to become citizens of Russia.

The Kremlin has also abolished the upper age limit for contract service in its military to recruit more of its citizens to fight in Ukraine.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the total combat casualties of Russian troops as of February 24 are around 29,600.

The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia lost 1,315 tanks, 3,235 armored fighting vehicles, 617 artillery systems, 201 multiple missile systems, 93 anti-aircraft systems, 206 combat aircraft, 170 helicopters, 2,225 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 ships, 502 unmanned aerial vehicles, 47 units with special equipment and 114 cruise missile.

In other developments, Ukrainian officials said Russian forces had attacked over 40 towns in the eastern Donbass region.

They added that five civilians died, 12 were injured and 47 civilian facilities were destroyed or damaged in the latest attacks.

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