- Category
- Latest news
Russia Deploys New RG-60 Thermobaric Hand Grenades in War Against Ukraine
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian forces have begun receiving a new model of hand fragmentation-thermobaric grenade designated RG-60, recently observed in use during the war in Ukraine.
According to TASS, the design was patented by Russia’s Research Institute of Applied Chemistry under the name RG-60TBO1. The modification features an updated polymer body integrating 900 pre-formed steel elements, designed to combine fragmentation and thermobaric effects.
The munition is a further development of the RG-60TB grenade introduced in the 2000s. The RG-60TBO1 disperses a flammable aerosol, which is then ignited, creating a high-temperature explosion and strong pressure wave.
Patent documentation states that the charge “ensures an extended positive compression phase,” with initial fragment velocity reaching 1,300–1,500 m/s. The effective lethal radius against infantry equipped with second-class body armor (NIJ IIA) is reported to be up to eight meters.
The grenade is paired with the standardized UDZ-5 fuze, which functions after a 3–4 second delay or upon strong impact with a solid surface.
Patent authors noted that test batches confirmed the stated performance, and the product is ready for serial production. However, samples have already been documented with Russian forces in Ukraine during the summer of 2025.
While most units are supplied with the UDZ-5 fuze, some Russian personnel have been observed using the grenades with the older UZRGM fuze, as seen in published footage.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces also operate thermobaric hand grenades of the RGT-27 series, adopted in 2020 in both rectangular and cylindrical configurations.
Weighing around 600 grams, these grenades create a fireball of up to 13 cubic meters with temperatures reaching 2,500–3,000°C.
The blast produces severe overpressure in enclosed spaces, though their effectiveness in open terrain is significantly reduced due to the absence of fragmentation.
Earlier, Ukrainian forces reported destroying a rare Soviet-built “Ladoga” armored vehicle with FPV drones in March 2024, though it remains unclear whether the unit recently observed on the frontline is the same one or another example from the limited batch of only four ever produced.
