On Kharkiv Front, Ukraine 'Torches' Russian Armored Flamethrower In Mid Launch

Russia possesses a variety of fearsome weapons, none more so than the Solntsepyok armored flamethrower which shoots thermobaric munitions. 

But like most such behemoths on the modern battlefield, it is vulnerable to anti-missile systems and drones, especially in open terrain. Which is why Ukrainian forces spied, targeted and 'torched' this one in mid launch - along with a tank, various vehicles and a number of hapless Russian troops. JL

Julia Struck reports in the Kyiv Post:

Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region eliminated Russian soldiers, a tank and a rare Solntsepyok heavy thermobaric flamethrower system using drone strikes. FPV drones destroyed the system in mid launch. They also struck a tank, a ground robotic complex, vehicles, and Russian soldiers. “Multiple drones immobilized the target, then others destroy it.” Despite its power, Solntsepyok has significant weaknesses. It is large and lightly armored, making it vulnerable to attacks from anti-tank missile systems and grenade launchers, is less effective on large, open battlefields and can pose a danger to nearby Russian troops due to the nature of its munitions. 

Ukrainian forces have reported the elimination of Russian soldiers and several pieces of military equipment – including a tank and a rare Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system - using drone strikes.

The unmanned aerial unit “Phoenix” posted a video of the operation on Telegram, captioned: “Burned the enemy Solntsepyok, dismantled the tank to the cog.”

 

The footage shows Phoenix pilots targeting and striking Russian logistics and equipment in the Kharkiv region. The video appears to capture the destruction of a Solntsepyok, a tank, a ground robotic complex, various vehicles, and several Russian soldiers.

Kyiv Post could not independently verify the exact time or location of the video.

 

The type of tank destroyed was not specified, nor did Phoenix clarify the timeframe in which these strikes took place.

The Solntsepyok is a heavy flamethrower system designed to destroy lightly armored vehicles, enemy personnel in open terrain, and fortified positions using devastating thermobaric blasts. It fires 220mm unguided rockets, each weighing over 200 kilograms (441 pounds).

The system’s thermobaric munitions disperse an explosive mixture before detonation, creating a sharp atmospheric pressure drop - around 160 mmHg - that can cause fatal internal injuries.

Cost estimates for a Solntsepyok system range from $6.5 million to $15 million.

 

This strike adds to a growing list of costly Russian equipment destroyed by Ukraine’s far cheaper FPV drones.

In early September 2024, soldiers from Ukraine’s 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade destroyed a Russian TOS-1A Solntsepyok near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk while it was actively launching ammunition.

FPV drones struck the system mid-launch. Footage showed the Solntsepyok firing two projectiles before being hit multiple times by drones, eventually coming to a stop as smoke billowed nearby.

 

Ukrainian aerial scouts told Kyiv Post that at least four drones were used to ensure the kill. “Multiple drones are used to immobilize the target, then others destroy it,” one scout said.

Another added that if the system wasn’t fully destroyed, Russian forces might try to recover it under the cover of night.

In July 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Ukrainian forces were actively hunting the Solntsepyok system because of its battlefield effectiveness.

A ministry representative said the system fires thermobaric rockets that create a fireball reaching temperatures of around 3,000 degrees Celsius, making it impossible for enemy troops to find safety even in dugouts.

According to Russian officials, Solntsepyok has no direct equivalent anywhere in the world.

Despite its power, Solntsepyok has significant weaknesses. It is large and lightly armored, making it vulnerable to attacks from anti-tank missile systems and grenade launchers.

If the system is damaged, it can also pose a danger to nearby Russian troops due to the nature of its munitions.

For instance, as reported by Kyiv Post, in mid-June of 2024, ammunition from a Solntsepyok thermobaric warhead exploded in Shebekino, a town approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) north of the Russian-Ukrainian border in Belgorod Oblast, killing three Russian soldiers.

 

The Russian Telegram channel Astra, citing its sources, reported that the cause of the explosion was unknown, but preliminary data suggested it was spontaneous.

The local Telegram channel described the explosion as strong, which shattered house glass and tore out window frames due to the blast wave.

On large, open battlefields, Solntsepyok is less effective compared to traditional multiple rocket launch systems, particularly when it comes to range and overall impact. Various sources report that its effective range is just 6 to 10 kilometers (3.7 to 6.2 miles), limiting it to close-quarters combat.