Everything You Need to Know About, Thermobaric Weapons.
On February 28, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, accused Russia of using thermobaric weapons.
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On February 28, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, accused Russia of using thermobaric weapons.
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The so-called vacuum bombs suck oxygen from the air to trigger a massive explosion and cause immense destruction.
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According to NBC, thermobaric weapons are a type of two-stage munition launched via a rocket or artillery shell.
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The first charge spreads an aerosol similar to vaporized gasoline over an area.
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The second charge then ignites the aerosol, which creates a huge, fiery blast and generates a massive wave of pressure.
Finally, a destructive vacuum is formed as oxygen from the surrounding air rushes in to fill the gap.
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NBC reports that vacuum bombs are particularly devastating to human life, as victims can be killed by the blast, the shockwave or the subsequent vacuum.
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Though widely condemned by nongovernmental organizations, there are no international laws banning the use of thermobarics in warfare.
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According to NBC, the devastating weapons have been in development since the 1970s.
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They were used by Russia against Chechnya in the '90s and most recently by the United States against Afghanistan in 2017.
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They were used by Russia against Chechnya in the '90s and most recently by the United States against Afghanistan in 2017.
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NBC points out that it has yet to be confirmed that thermobaric weapons have been used in Ukraine.
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However, the accusations add to concerns that Russia has conducted indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas that could constitute war crimes.
