As Russian forces continue to wage war in Ukraine, kyiv’s defenders are employing novel solutions to wreak havoc on enemy positions in the absence of sufficient Western weaponry.
Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, hungry for help, have been forced to innovate since the early days of the war, coming up with budget-conscious solutions to keep the Russian advance in check.
Now new images have emerged of their latest invention, the menacing drone dubbed ‘Dragon’s Breath’, and horrified Russian troops have already taken to social media to protest against its brutal effectiveness and call for help.
Thermite bombs, which rain down chunks of molten metal on their unfortunate targets, have already been used several times in warfare by Vladimir Putin’s forces, but are typically used in rockets or cluster munitions launched indiscriminately from bomber aircraft at a much higher cost.
Experts believe that by successfully attaching weapons to the landing gear of first-person view (FPV) drones, the men in kyiv have developed a cost-effective way to carry out devastatingly accurate incendiary attacks on invaders and enjoy new advantages on the battlefield.
New images have emerged of the drone with the ominous name ‘Dragon’s Breath’ deployed on Russian positions
Ukraine’s armed forces have begun using drones to deploy thermite munitions
Cheap FPV drones can carry ammunition and spray molten metal on Russian positions.
Thermite munitions could also be used to destroy Russian artillery batteries, armored vehicles and other military equipment hidden in the forest.
Ukrainian soldiers fly an FPV drone in the direction of Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine, August 25, 2024
The first images of the Dragon’s Breath drones appeared on Monday.
The initial clip, which has now been widely shared on social media, shows a small FPV drone in flight over a wooded area in eastern Ukraine where Russian forces are allegedly hiding.
Its pilot ignites the thermite bomb and a torrent of red-hot fragments erupts from beneath the drone, scanning the tree line and spreading molten metal over the Russian positions below.
Two more clips were posted in quick succession: one of The 60th Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine and another from the “Khorne Group,” an element of the 116th Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine, both showed how the termite ignited the trees and started a raging inferno.
Days later, a video appeared on the messaging app Telegram that appeared to show a Russian soldier standing amid the burned remains of his troop’s camp and pleading for humanitarian aid, though that video has yet to be verified.
“Attack drones are our wings of vengeance, bringing fire straight from the sky!” read the Facebook post from the 60th Mechanized Brigade.
‘They become a real threat to the enemy, burning their positions with a precision that no other weapon can achieve.’
Thermite munitions could also be used to destroy Russian artillery batteries, armored vehicles and other military equipment hidden in the forest.
The chemical mixture of aluminum powder and iron oxide ignites at temperatures above 2,200 degrees Celsius (4,000 degrees Fahrenheit) and is capable of melting steel, making it a highly effective demolition device.
Sam Cranny-Evans, a defence analyst and RUSI associate, told MailOnline: “Dragon’s Breath drones appear to be… used to make it difficult for Russian positions to be maintained.
‘Thermite munitions burn extremely intensely and Russian troop positions often contain a lot of flammable materials: wood, grass, uniforms… not to mention ammunition.
‘I don’t know if it would burn a trench to nothing, but bunkers and trenches built from wood, tarps and other such materials would certainly catch fire, either directly from the termite or if the trees around them caught fire.
‘Even if the trench infrastructure is not physically destroyed, the possibility of fires consuming wooden structures and adjacent areas would make Russian positions untenable. Troops would therefore be forced to fight the fires – something extremely difficult to do given their intensity – or evacuate their positions.
‘Drones too provide a precise launch mechanism, so the Termite will almost always hit its target as long as the drone avoids countermeasures.
Drone cameras capture the devastating effectiveness of thermite bombs dropped on forested areas occupied by Russian troops
The first images of the Dragon’s Breath drones appeared on Monday
The initial clip, which has now been widely shared on social media, shows a small FPV drone in flight over a wooded area in eastern Ukraine where Russian forces are allegedly hiding.
The Russo-Ukrainian war has seen both sides pioneer state-of-the-art drone warfare tactics.
Ukrainian soldiers prepare FPV drones as military mobility of Ukrainian soldiers continues in the direction of Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine, August 25, 2024
Cranny-Evans went on to explain how Dragon’s Breath drones could help Ukrainian divisions quickly recapture occupied territory if used correctly.
“The timing of drone-mounted termite attacks is crucial to their long-term effectiveness,” he said.
‘If Ukrainian troops were to launch an offensive shortly after deploying the termite, they would likely be able to take advantage of the disarray.
“The ability of their Russian opponents to mount an effective defense would be severely diminished, so an immediate offensive could allow Kiev forces to recapture the position with relative ease.”
Samuel BendettA drone researcher at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank, also concluded that drone-mounted thermite bombs could prove an extremely effective addition to Ukrainian troops’ battlefield tricks.
“I hadn’t seen that particular application of drones before, but I’m not surprised that the Ukrainians are again leading the charge, as they have been the first to use many drones in novel ways throughout this conflict,” he said.
‘(Wooded areas) are often where soldiers hide, systems like artillery and mortars can be positioned to hide from drones, and troops can regroup, fortify and otherwise position themselves to continue the war.
“That’s why eliminating those areas is key.”
But there are also concerns that the new approach could trigger more widespread use of incendiary devices, which in turn would dramatically increase the risk to civilians living in conflict zones, according to Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) Executive Director Dr Iain Overton.
“Unlike conventional munitions designed to target specific military assets, thermite bombs can create widespread fires that engulf entire neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and homes,” reads an AOAV press release issued earlier this week.
‘Intense heat not only causes immediate destruction, but also poses long-term health risks to survivors, who can suffer severe burns, respiratory problems and psychological trauma.
‘Thermite bombs represent a broader trend in modern warfare, where technological advances blur the lines between legitimate military targets and civilian infrastructure… Their capacity means that even a single, precisely deployed bomb can start fires that are difficult, if not impossible, to extinguish.’
It remains to be seen to what extent Ukrainian units will resort to Dragon’s Breath to help clear the front line.
But one thing is certain: it won’t be long before Putin’s troops take note and fight fire with fire.