Russia Widely Deploys Thermobaric Warheads on Shahed Drones, Increasing Threat to Ukrainian Civilians

Russia has begun to widely deploy thermobaric warheads on Shahed drones, significantly increasing the threat they pose to civilian population when striking enclosed spaces, reports Defense Express.

According to the outlet, details about this warhead became known through the hacking of servers belonging to Russia’s "Alabuga" in Tatarstan, where these drones are assembled and upgraded. According to this information, the thermobaric warhead-50 weighs 52.4 kg (115.5 pounds) and combines a thermobaric effect with a fragmentation effect, utilizing 2,306 ready-made impact elements in the form of 9 mm diameter balls.

In modern single-stage munitions, the initiator’s detonation triggers a shockwave that propels the thermobaric mixture, which interacts with the air and itself to create a "fire cloud" with temperatures of 2400–2600°C (4352-4712 °F). This cloud spreads across the entire area, accompanied by a shockwave that damages the lungs, hearing organs, and other internal structures.

Defense Express reports that thermobaric munitions demonstrate maximum effectiveness in enclosed spaces, as the "fire cloud" can spread across multiple rooms. This is precisely why Russia is using Shahed drones equipped with the thermobaric warhead-50 to target cities, aiming to kill civilians in Ukraine. 

It is usually advised to civilians to move immediately to a room without windows and follow the “two walls” rule when it is impossible to make it to a shelter. The idea is to have at least two walls between you and the outside—the first wall may collapse on impact, while the second can help shield you from debris, including shattered glass. In the case of a thermobaric warhead detonating in a closed space, taking cover becomes significantly more challenging. The fire cloud from the explosion fills the entire apartment, unlike a fragmentation-explosive munition, from which the “two walls” rule can offer some protection.

Additional guideline exists to the widely recognized rule that advises staying in a room with at least two walls between you and the street if unable to reach shelter - closing interior doors. This simple action can create a partial barrier within the space, helping to reduce the spread of the thermobaric mixture throughout the apartment.

Russia has been terrorizing Ukrainian cities with massive drone attacks, targeting residential buildings, hospitals, and schools. On the night of November 7, drone attack on Kyiv caused significant damage to buildings across 6 city districts, injuring at least 2 people with air defenses downing more than 30 Russian drones near Kyiv.