Ukraine uses "dragon drones" with thermite mixture against russians - CNN

CNN reported that Ukraine appears to be using a fleet of flame-throwing "dragon drones" in its war against the russian invaders - using drones to deliver thermite mixture, a rather innovative solution to the munitions that have had terrifying effects in both world wars.

This is stated in the CNN article.

So, in particular, a series of videos posted on social networks, including on the Telegram of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, shows how low-flying drones drop streams of fire - actually molten metal - on positions held by the russians in forest strips.

A red-hot mixture of aluminum powder and iron oxide, called thermite, is said to burn at temperatures up to 2,200 degrees Celsius. It can quickly burn trees and vegetation covering russian troops, if not killed or disabled.

It is explained that when the termite flies out of the drone, it resembles the fire that erupts from the mouth of the mythical dragon, which is why the drones got their name.

CNN, in particular, refers to a video of the 60th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the caption:

"Strike drones are our wings of vengeance, bringing fire straight from the sky! They become a real threat to the enemy, burning their positions with an accuracy that no other weapon can achieve. When our Vidar is working, the orcs will never sleep again".

According to Nicholas Drummond, a defense industry analyst specializing in ground warfare and a former British Army officer, creating such fear is the main effect of Ukraine's termite drones.

"It's a very unpleasant substance. Using a drone to deliver it is quite innovative. But if used in this way, its effect will be more psychological than physical... I understand that Ukraine has only limited capabilities to achieve thermite effect, so it's more of a niche opportunity, than a new primary weapon," Drummond said in an interview with CNN.

At the same time, the analyst recognized the psychological effect, the terror caused by the thermite.

"I wouldn't want to be the victim," Drummond said.

It is worth noting that thermite can easily burn almost anything, including metal, so few people can protect themselves from it. It was discovered by a German chemist in the 1890s and was originally used to weld railroad tracks. But soon its military effectiveness became obvious. Specifically, the Germans dropped it from Zeppelins as bombs over Britain during World War I, according to a story from McGill University in Montreal.

Both Germany and the Allies used thermite aerial bombs in World War II, and disabled captured artillery pieces by pouring thermite into the breech and melting the weapon from the inside.

According to the British anti-war rights group Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), Ukraine has already used thermite dropped from drones to permanently disable russian tanks.

"Thermite is discharged "directly through the hatches, where due to the intense heat it quickly ignites and destroys everything inside. This accuracy, combined with the drone's ability to bypass traditional defenses, makes thermite bombs a highly effective tool in modern warfare," the AOAV report said.

Thermite is just one type of incendiary weapon, among others are napalm and white phosphorus. The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs states that incendiary weapons can cause mass destruction and damage to the environment.

"Fires caused by the weapon itself or ignited by it are difficult to predict and localize. Therefore, incendiary weapons are often called "weapons of a large area" due to their effect on a large area," the organization's website states.

According to international law, thermite is not prohibited for use in military operations, but its use on civilian objects is prohibited due to the terrible effects it can have on the human body.

In a 2022 report on incendiary weapons such as thermite, Human Rights Watch called them "notorious for their horrific human toll," particularly because they cause fourth- or fifth-degree burns.

"They can cause damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and even bones," Human Rights Watch notes.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in the first half of 2024, the Ministry of Defense adopted, codified, and put into operation in the Defense Forces of Ukraine almost 480 samples of weapons and military equipment, and about 290 of them are products of domestic gunsmiths.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that against the background of russian shelling, Ukraine is starting the production of weapons underground.

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