Russia Loses First Advanced TOS-2 “Tosochka” Flamethrower System Near Pokrovsk

Ukraine’s forces have reportedly destroyed Russia’s latest heavy flamethrower system, the TOS-2 “Tosochka,” near Pokrovsk, reported Ukrainian media Tysk, publishing photos of the wreckage, marking the first confirmed loss on February 16.

The images, taken by Russian troops, show the destroyed launcher after being struck by an unidentified weapon. The system had been used against Ukrainian defense forces before being neutralized.

The strike took place in the village of Petrovka in the Pokrovsk district, approximately 10 kilometers from the city.

Russia officially acknowledged the use of its newest TOS-2 system in Ukraine in October 2023. Designed as an upgrade to the TOS-1 “Buratino” and TOS-1A “Solntsepyok,” the TOS-2 was developed by the NPO “Splav” defense enterprise.

Unlike its predecessors, which are mounted on tracked T-72 and T-90 tank chassis, the TOS-2 is built on a Ural-63706 truck with a 6×6 wheel configuration, making it more mobile and fuel-efficient. Its armored cabin provides additional protection for the crew against small arms fire.

The TOS-2 Tosochka was also equipped with a mechanized ammunition loading unit, which allows the crew to load rockets without the need for a transport and loading vehicle. This enables the crew to reload the launcher after the salvo.

The system is also capable of firing newly developed munitions with an extended range, surpassing the 6-kilometer limit of the TOS-1A.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Smerch-2 (RBU-6000) naval mortar in the Lyman sector using drones.

The RBU-6000 Smerch-2 is a Soviet-era reactive naval mortar, developed in the 1960s for the Soviet Navy. It was originally designed as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system, used to neutralize submarines, attacking torpedoes, and underwater sabotage threats.