New Delhi: In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a new and deadly weapon has come into the spotlight. Ukrainian forces have begun using the so-called Dragon Drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of raining down thermite incendiary bombs on Russian-held positions in the occupied Kharkiv region. Footage of the fire-spewing drone has recently gone viral on various Telegram channels, drawing attention to this devastating technology.Drone drops thermite bombs on Russian military vehiclesThe viral video, shared by the Telegram channel Khorne Group, shows a low-flying drone dropping thermite—a high-temperature incendiary mixture of aluminum powder and iron oxide—on Russian positions. Thermite, which burns at extremely high temperatures, has the capability to destroy military vehicles, fortifications, and even trees in the vicinity. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the drone attacks successfully damaged both Russian military vehicles and fortifications.Ukraines 60th mechanized brigade speaks outThe 60th Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine, which shared footage of the drone strike, issued a statement emphasizing the precision and power of the Dragon Drone strikes. “Strike drones are our wings of vengeance, bringing fire straight from the sky! They pose a real threat to the enemy, burning their positions with unmatched accuracy,” said the Brigade. They also referenced Vidar, the Norse god of vengeance, in their statement: “When our Vidar works, the Russian enemy will never sleep.”Watch the video here:The Ukrainian military began using the Dragon drone, which burns the area underneath with thermite 🥰🥰🥰 Thermite is a mixture of burning granules of iron oxide and aluminum. About 500 grams of thermite mixture can be placed under a standard FPV drone. The chemical reaction is… pic.twitter.com/3XIzc3LLHN— Anastasia (@Nastushichek) September 5, 2024Concerns over use of incendiary bombsThe use of incendiary bombs like thermite has sparked renewed debates over their potential to cause harm beyond military targets. While these weapons have primarily been used in military operations, the possibility of their deployment in civilian areas remains a significant concern. Incendiary bombs are designed to start fires, and in 2023, Russian forces used thermite munitions over the Ukrainian town of Vuhledar following their defeat in a tank battle. Russia reportedly launched these thermite bombs using 122mm Grad 9M22S rockets from a Soviet-era B-21 multi-rocket launcher system.Historical use of incendiary weaponsIncendiary weapons have a long and controversial history in warfare. During World War I, both German and Allied forces used thermite and other incendiary munitions. By World War II, the Germans had developed the B1.3E incendiary bomb, which the Luftwaffe used extensively to target British cities, causing widespread destruction. The Allies, in turn, used napalm—a mixture of gasoline and a gelling agent—during bombings in both Japan and Vietnam. The infamous napalm strikes on Tokyo during World War II burned nearly 60% of the city, while the Vietnam War brought global condemnation of its use on civilians.International regulations on incendiary weaponsThe international community has long sought to restrict the use of incendiary weapons due to their devastating effects on civilians. In 1980, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) adopted Protocol III, which aims to limit the use of incendiary devices, particularly in populated areas. This protocol prohibits the targeting of civilians and restricts the use of incendiary weapons against military objectives located in civilian-populated regions. Despite these regulations, the ongoing use of such weapons in conflicts like the Ukraine-Russia war raises questions about the enforcement and effectiveness of international laws.
