Russia using lethal thermobaric weapons to bomb cities, claims Ukraine. Videos of huge blasts viral

Ukraine Russia war: Videos show massive explosions in Ukrainian cities. (Image: Screengrab from video tweeted by @hoje_no)

Russia has been using thermobaric weapons, also known as 'vacuum bombs', to strike Ukrainian cities, a large number of videos shared on social media with the claim shows.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova also alleged that Moscow has indeed been using 'vacuum bombs' in a horrifying escalation that can cause mass destruction.

Thermobaric weapons are widely considered to be one of the most brutal war weapons only second to nuclear weapons. The missiles are filled with highly explosive fuel and chemical mix which can cause supersonic blast waves obliterating anything in its path causing widespread destruction. The blast wave also lasts longer than normal bombs, experts have said.

Videos shared by citizens and journalists in Ukraine, who have claimed or assumed they were vacuum bombs due to the intensity of the hit, have flooded Twitter.

The other deadly bomb Russia has been using are cluster munitions, Ukraine claims.  These are bombs or rockets that release a cluster of smaller “bomblets” over a large area.

See some videos of massive explosions in Ukraine as shared on Twitter.

"They're not protected against something like this. Aerosols can get in the air and everybody dies an awful death." - @JanesINTEL editor Daniel Wasserbly describes to @tomforemancnn the devastating harm vacuum bombs cause. pic.twitter.com/KEhTw1v5C0

— CNN (@CNN) March 3, 2022

Large explosion in Kharkiv, I can’t definitely confirm what weapon was used, but a couple of people have indicated it was thermobaric. Could have also been a large ammo dump. pic.twitter.com/9OQKlkWjC7

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 1, 2022

#Russia is deploying high-powered thermobaric bombs in #Ukraine. Look at the size of this explosion!! pic.twitter.com/mBoFRFSKI4

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— Watchman (@Judmir3) February 27, 2022

Explosion in Kharkiv, Ukraine causing Mushroom Cloud (03/01/2022)

Russia has been accused of using thermobaric vacuum bombs during its invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. #Kharkiv #UkraineUnderAttaсk #UkraineWar #Kyiv #Ukrainians #Kiev pic.twitter.com/BNygLH8uGv

— Chilly Chills (@WeeliyumF) March 2, 2022

Terrifying footage shows the moment unknown munitions explode on the streets of Chernihiv, Ukraine. https://t.co/RKe4KfUTYq pic.twitter.com/hBkSONI83d

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) March 3, 2022

Thermobaric bombs used today in Ukraine. (Aka vacuum bomb)If you see this coming, open your mouth so your lungs don’t explode, and put your fingers deep in your ears to protect you ears, before the blast arrives.#Ukraine

Il est vexe Poutine, il va rendre ca encore plus moche… pic.twitter.com/13sOQgj0Ob

— Charlotte ROCHAT (@CharlotteRochat) February 28, 2022

TOS-1 thermobaric rocket launchers have been seen moving towards Ukrainian cities, CNN reported. These bombs can be deployed for clearing large stretches of ground and underground locations starving occupants of oxygen when it detonates.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was quoted by Reuters saying: "If that (Russia using vacuum bombs) were true, it would potentially be a war crime." She also added that international organisations would look to assess this and the Biden administration "would look to be a part of that conversation."

Thermobaric weapons have not been unequivocally banned yet but under international humanitarian law, they should not be used.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine entered the eighth day today as casualties rose with no signs of the conflict being resolved. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shrugged off sanctions and warnings from the West ramping up the attacks and has even asked Moscow's nuclear weapons arsenal on high alert snowballing the crisis into a worldwide worry. Russia is number 1 in the world in terms of nuclear weapons.