Russia has allegedly used the world’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb after terrifying video showed a huge mushroom cloud explosion in Ukraine.
Footage shows a massive explosion and fireball followed by a thick plume of smoke rising over already heavily damaged Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
Moscow has neither officially confirmed nor denied whether the ODAB-9000 thermobaric or fuel-air explosive had been used.
The bomb known as the “father of all bombs” creates an explosion that generates intense pressure and heat, which can be lethal even for people sheltered inside buildings or bunkers.
It is designed to destroy enemy positions over a wide area that includes entrenched infantry and lightly fortified structures. The explosion of fuel and air creates a prolonged shock wave and vacuum, which can collapse buildings and cause internal injuries to those in its radius.
Footage shows a massive explosion and fireball followed by a thick plume of smoke rising over already heavily damaged Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
The bomb known as the “father of all bombs” creates an explosion that generates intense pressure and heat, which can be lethal even for people sheltered inside buildings or bunkers.
A Ukrainian source, Colonel Vitaliy Sarantsev, said the claim that the ODAB-9000 was used may be a Russian attempt to demoralize defense forces by “intimidating the local population and destabilizing the region.”
However, some experts have doubted whether the bomb was used.
Sources say the ODAB-9000 is so heavy that it would have to be deployed from a Russian strategic bomber, for example the Tu-160, Tu-95 or Tu-22M3.
The plane would have to get so close that it could be shot down by a surface-to-air missile, and no movement of these bombers was recorded.
A Ukrainian source, Colonel Vitaliy Sarantsev, said the claim that the ODAB-9000 was used may be a Russian attempt to demoralize defense forces by “intimidating the local population and destabilizing the region.”
The spokesman for the Kharkiv Regional Military Command also denied the ODAB-9000 claim.
Despite this, the Pool channel number 3 on Telegram, with 343,000 followers, has stated that the bomb was an ODAB-9000.
They said: ‘The Armed Forces of Ukraine have never been attacked like this… the video shows the Russian army using an ODAB-9000 vacuum bomb with an explosive mass of more than 7 tons.
However, some experts have doubted whether the bomb was used. Sources say ODAB-9000 is so heavy that it would have to be deployed from a Russian strategic bomber that would have to get so close it could be shot down.
The city of Vovchansk, seriously damaged moments before the launch of the alleged ODAB-9000
Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, before the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022
“It is considered the most powerful non-nuclear munition in the world.”
War analyst Sergei Karnaukhov, with more than 147,000 followers, echoed this report.
Political analyst Yury Baranchik, with 72,000 followers, stated: “In Volchansk, the Russian army first used the ODAB-1500 vacuum bomb; according to other sources, the ODAB-9000.”
‘The media calls this bomb one of the most powerful non-nuclear munitions in the world, which is true…
‘The estimated mass of the explosive is 7,100 kg. Although there is little official data on this ammunition, the external effects are evident.’
With Putin turning 72 next week, Russian officials routinely look for “gifts” for his birthday, and one of them could be this new bomb.
The huge explosion comes as Russian troops seized the strategic town of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region from the Ukrainians after furious fighting that lasted many months.
With Putin turning 72 next week, Russian officials routinely look for “gifts” for his birthday, and one of them could be this new bomb.
An aerial view of the heavily damaged city of Vuhledar. The huge explosion occurred when Russian troops captured the strategic city of Vuhledar, in the Donetsk region, from the Ukrainians after a furious fight that lasted many months.
Ukraine confirmed yesterday that it was withdrawing forces from the city to protect the army and equipment.
The capture of the city is considered a great victory for Moscow. The city is located on a railway line that connects the area with Russian-occupied Crimea. It is also seen as a key step towards Russia’s complete takeover of the Donetsk region, over which Russia has claimed sovereignty since September 2022.
The strategic victory follows the Russian army’s fastest advance through eastern Ukraine in more than two years.