In the recent battlefield innovation, Ukraine unleashes its 'dragon drones,' raining down molten metal onto Russian bases.
A collection of videos shared on social media platforms, including Telegram from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, showcased on Wednesday, depict drones flying low and unleashing a torrent of blazing hot substance – essentially molten aluminum and iron oxide – onto Russian-held positions hidden within tree lines.
This combustible mixture, known as thermite, burns with an intensity of up to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,200 degrees Celsius). It swiftly burns off trees and vegetation, providing cover to Russian troops, potentially even incapacitating or eliminating them.
In appearance, this substance resembles flames emanating from the mouth of a legendary dragon, earning the drones this nickname.
A caption on a social media post from Ukraine's 60th Mechanized Brigade stated, "Strike Drones are our instruments of retribution, bringing hellfire down from the skies!"
The post continued, emphasizing the destructive power of these drones, stating, "They become a formidable threat to the enemy, incinerating their positions with an accuracy beyond the capabilities of other weapons."
The post added, "When our 'Vidar' operates – the Russian woman will not know peace." Vidar is the Nordic god of vengeance.
According to Nicholas Drummond, a defense analyst specialized in land warfare and a former British Army officer, Ukraine's use of thermite drones seems to be primarily for psychological impact than physical damage.
Drummond explained, "It is truly detestable stuff. The use of a drone to deliver it is quite ingenious. However, its true impact will likely be more psychological than physical."
Drummond acknowledged that Ukraine's capacity to deliver a thermite effect is limited, making it a niche capability rather than a mainstream weapon.
Despite its limited use, Drummond acknowledged the terror thermite can instill.
"I would not have wanted to be on the receiving end," Drummond said.
Incendiary weapons in conflict
Thermite can effortlessly burn through almost anything, including metal, offering minimal protection.
It was invented by a German chemist in the 1890s and initially used for welding railway tracks.
Its military potential was soon discovered, with both Germany and the Allies using thermite aerial bombs as weapons during World War I and World War II, as well as using it to disable captured artillery pieces by melting them shut from the inside.
A Ukrainian drone is believed to have dropped thermite on Russian positions near Kharkiv. The terror it instills seems to be the main objective of Ukraine's thermite drones, according to defense analyst Nicholas Drummond.
According to Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a British anti-war advocacy group, Ukraine has previously used thermite dropped from drones to permanently disable Russian tanks.
The thermite is dropped "directly through the hatches, where the intense heat quickly ignites and destroys everything inside," an AOAV report says.
"This precision, combined with the drone’s ability to bypass traditional defenses, makes thermite bombs a highly effective tool in modern warfare," it says.
Thermite is just one type of incendiary weapon, with others including napalm and white phosphorus.
The United Nations Office for Disarmament states that incendiary weapons can cause extensive damage and environmental harm.
"The fires produced by the weapon itself or ignited by it are difficult to predict and contain. Therefore, incendiary weapons are often described as 'area weapons' due to their impact over a broad area," it says on its website.
The United States used napalm to burn substantial portions of Japan's capital to ashes during the infamous Tokyo fire raids in World War II. US forces also extensively used it in Vietnam.
The US military has also used thermite in grenades, with the US Army's Pine Bluff Arsenal producing these weapons from the 1960s through 2014 before resuming production again in 2023.
The impact of thermite on humans
Under international law, thermite is not banned for military combat, but its use on civilian targets is prohibited due to the severe damage it can cause to the human body.
In a 2022 report on incendiary weapons such as thermite, Human Rights Watch called them "notorious for their horrific human cost," including inflicting fourth- or fifth-degree burns.
"They can cause damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and even bones," HRW said.
Treatment can take months and require constant attention. If survivors manage to endure, they are left with physical and psychological scars, HRW said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a full-scale invasion order for Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow's initial advance into Ukraine was halted far from seizing Kyiv, and both sides have been fighting for control of much of the same territory ever since.
Ukraine's forces, outnumbered and outgunned by Russia, have proven resourceful with small drones, continually hammering Moscow's troops and equipment.
A Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory near Kursk in August caught Putin off guard and boosted Ukrainian confidence in its ability to prevail in the war.
A village outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, was set ablaze following a reported thermite drone attack. Kyiv has accused Russian forces of using incendiary munitions on civilian targets earlier in the war, including one attack on a village outside of Kharkiv in May 2022.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh visited that village shortly after a Russian attack, describing a scene of "homes, fields, even the air itself, torched."
Ukrainian officers also accused Russia of using incendiaries in attacks on the city of Bakhmut last year.
Russia's use of incendiaries hasn't resulted in an immediate win for them, and Drummond believes it won't be a game-changer for Ukraine either.
"For Ukraine to truly make a difference, it needs the numbers to carry out a significant push as they did in Kursk. This is what winning looks like," Drummond stated.
However, thermite does contribute to Russian soldiers having a greater reason to be wary of Ukrainian drones, Drummond mentioned.
"We've witnessed situations where Russian forces abandon their posts due to numerous drone attacks. The more Ukraine can instill a fear of drones, the higher their chances of success," he said.
"Thermite maintains the tension."
In the context of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has reported that Ukraine has previously used thermite dropped from drones to permanently disable Russian tanks. This strategic use of thermite drones not only bypasses traditional defenses but also causes extensive damage to the targeted vehicles.
Furthermore, the United Nations Office for Disarmament has highlighted that incendiary weapons, including thermite, can cause extensive damage and environmental harm due to their ability to produce fires that are difficult to predict and contain, making them often described as 'area weapons'.
