- Footage shows a Russian TOS-1a 'Heavy Flamethrower system' blasting Mariupol
- It is thought to be the first clear visual confirmation of thermobaric weapons
- Thermobaric bombs are far more devastating than conventional explosives
- They suck in oxygen in the surrounding area to create a massive fireball
- Mariupol has already endured a fortnight of constant bombardment
- But the city has refused to surrender to Russia despite heavy casualties
Dozens of the thermobaric weapons were unleashed, trailing smoke as they soared through the air towards their helpless civilian targets, while the earth around the launcher was set ablaze
Footage has emerged of Russian forces firing thermobaric missiles at the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, confirming the illegal use of devastating weapons against a civilian population.
The clips, published by Russia Today and the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), show a TOS-1a 'Heavy Flamethrower system' launching a salvo of rockets towards the southern port city which has already endured more than a fortnight of heavy bombardment, resulting in hundreds of casualties.
Dozens of the thermobaric weapons were unleashed, trailing smoke as they soared through the air towards their helpless civilian targets, while the earth around the launcher was set ablaze.
Thermobaric bombs, also known as vacuum bombs or fuel-air bombs, are far more devastating than conventional explosives and work in two stages.
When a thermobaric charge is deployed, the first blast sprays a fuel vapour throughout the surrounding area, before a second blast ignites the vapour cloud in the air.
This results in a huge explosion, triggering a high-temperature fireball which sucks up the oxygen in the surrounding area and creates a massive blast wave.
The fireball can melt through defences and vaporize bodies caught close to the explosion, while the high-pressure blast wave can demolish buildings and rupture human organs.
The Ministry of Defence reported earlier this month that thermobaric weapons had been deployed in Ukraine, but this footage represents the first visual confirmation of their use against civilians in Mariupol.
This image, taken from a video clip released by the Donetsk People's Republic, shows a TOS1a launch system deploying a salvo of thermobaric rockets
Dozens of the thermobaric weapons were unleashed, trailing smoke as they soared through the air towards their helpless civilian targets, while the earth around the launcher was set ablaze
The TOS-1a launcher, adorned with the 'Z' logo which has become a symbol of Russian aggression in Ukraine, is seen in this video released by the Donetsk People's Republic
Thermobaric explosives release an aerosol consisting of very fine particles, such as metal, flammable dusts or chemical droplets. An ignition source then ignites the cloud of particles and their rapid combustion causes an explosion and a vacuum in the surrounding vicinity
Mariupol has been under a Russian heavy bombardment for more than a fortnight, resulting in widespread devastation and hundreds of casualties
Local residents take cover as they hear blasts during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol
Bodies of civilians killed during the Russian bombardment of Mariupol are laid out in a park as they await burial by soldiers defending the city, on Sunday
Footage of Russia's deployment of the terrifying thermobaric weapons comes as Ukraine resoundingly rejected Russia's demand that troops in Mariupol lay down their arms and surrender to allow civilians to be evacuated.
Russian Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev laid out Moscow's offer late last night, saying Ukrainian troops and 'foreign mercenaries' who laid down their arms and raised white flags would be allowed to leave via 'humanitarian corridors', followed by civilians.
But Mariupol rejected the demands within minutes, with Pyotr Andryushenko - an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol - saying that Russian promises of amnesty could not be trusted and that troops defending the city were determined to fight down to the last man.
Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk called on Russia to stop 'wasting time on eight pages of letters' and open humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave the city instead of using them as bargaining chips.
She told news outlet Ukrainska Pravda: 'There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms. We have already informed the Russian side about this.'
Mariupol has been under siege for two weeks with little access to food or water and no power.
Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the besieged city on Ukraine's southern coast, but temporary ceasefire agreements to allow citizens to flee via humanitarian corridors have been repeatedly broken by Russian troops.
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