Russia responded to the Ukrainians and entered the “dragon drone” clash. Moscow thus ordered the launch of drones that will drop so-called thermites above Ukrainian troops. It comes seven days after videos first appeared on social media showing Ukraine using “dragons” to attack Russians hidden in tree lines and trenches.
Thermite is the name for a combination of oxidized iron and aluminum, it releases a temperature of up to 2200 degrees Celsius, and if it does not kill or incapacitate the soldiers, it will quickly burn the trees and vegetation that serve as cover. It can also burn those not in direct contact with it. As it falls to the ground from the drone, the thermite resembles the fire coming from the mouth of something that looks like a dragon, hence its name.
The drones attack by dispersing that composition over the trees under which the enemy seeks cover. It does the same above the trenches. Burning, among other things, reduces where the enemy can hide.
A video posted on Telegram by Moscow politician and military journalist Andrey Medvedev shows Russian troops deploying their dragon drone. It is the first such video to appear. It shows a soldier attaching a canister he says contains thermites to a drone which is then launched, allegedly towards Ukrainian positions.
Russia has a long history of using thermites, Jutarnji writes, and it is believed that it has used them in Ukraine since the first day of the war, The War Zone portal writes.
But Human Right Watch says that Ukraine has also been using thermites for some time. The organization said it had “reviewed visual evidence showing that there were at least 82 surface-fire weapon attacks in Ukraine between February 2022 and April 2023, spread across seven Ukrainian regions.”
“At this time it is not possible to attribute responsibility for specific attacks, but Russia and Ukraine possess the same types of incendiary weapons, including 122mm Grad rockets that deliver incendiary weapons,” the organization said.
What is different is their use in symbiosis with drones. The War zone writes, however, that the new application of drone weapons differs from previous ones since it can do massive damage when ejecting thermite, compared to the much more limited effects achieved by standard weaponized drones. The psychological impact this weapon has is also significant.
This war has served as a veritable laboratory for the development of weapons, especially drones, and each side is quickly learning from the other. Lessons learned extend far beyond Ukraine. Militaries around the world have noticed this new dynamic on the battlefield, and it wouldn’t be surprising if other nations are already developing their own dragon drones, concluded The War Zone.
