Ukraine Unleashes 'Dragon Drone' To Scorch Russian Targets With Molten Metal | WATCH

Ukrainian drones recently unleashed thermite incendiary bombs on Russian-held positions in the occupied Kharkiv region, setting fire to trees and reportedly damaging some Russian military vehicles.

Footage of the fire-spewing drones, nicknamed "Dragon Drones," has surfaced on several Telegram channels.

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One such channel, Khorne Group, shared an undated video showing a low-flying drone dropping thermite-a mixture of aluminium powder and iron oxide that burns at extremely high temperatures.

The molten metal can quickly burn through trees, fortifications, and even metals, rendering military vehicles and armor useless.

The 60th Mechanised Brigade of Ukraine also shared drone footage of these strikes, stating, "Strike Drones are our wings of vengeance, bringing fire straight from the sky! They become a real threat to the enemy, burning his positions with an accuracy that no other weapon can achieve. When our 'Vidar' works - the Russian woman will never sleep."

The brigade referred to the weapon as "Vidar," associated with the god of vengeance in Scandinavian mythology, and highlighted its precision and lethality.

The use of incendiary bombs, which are designed to cause fires, has raised concerns about their potential impact on civilian populations and infrastructure.

In 2023, Russia reportedly used thermite bombs in the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar after a tank battle defeat, marking a trend of such weapons being deployed by both sides.

The Russians were said to have used 122mm Grad 9M22S rockets from Soviet-era B-21 multi-rocket launcher systems with thermite warheads.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have been seen using thermite weapons on the frontlines. Unlike conventional bombs that rely on blast effects, thermite generates intense heat, making it suitable for welding steel, iron, and railway tracks.

The widespread use of thermite bombs has raised concerns about their potential to be used in populated areas.

"The widespread use of thermite bombs increases the likelihood of these weapons being deployed in populated areas. The result could be catastrophic, with horrific injuries and loss of life among civilians," warned Dr Iain Overton, Executive Director of Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a British advocacy group.

Thermite requires very high temperatures to ignite, often achieved using magnesium strips as fuses, as conventional fuses cannot reach the necessary temperatures. This makes its use particularly dangerous and difficult to control.

The history of incendiary weapons dates back to World War I, when both German and Allied forces employed them. The American Thermite Hand Grenade Mark I and the French Model 1916 incendiary grenades were commonly used.

Before World War II, Germany developed the B1.3E incendiary bomb, which the Luftwaffe used extensively during its bombing campaigns over British cities in 1940-41.

According to the Imperial War Museum, "During 1940-41, the Luftwaffe caused serious damage by dropping large quantities of incendiary bombs on British towns and cities."

The Allies also employed incendiary weapons, such as Napalm-a flammable mixture of gasoline and a gelling agent-during their campaigns, most notably in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Napalm was used by the US to bomb Japanese cities, with nearly 60% of Tokyo being burned during one such campaign. The use of Napalm continued through conflicts like the Vietnam War, where it caused devastating civilian injuries, drawing global attention to the dangers of such weapons.

International efforts to regulate incendiary weapons began in the 1970s, largely in response to the use of napalm. In 1972, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning incendiary weapons as "a category of arms viewed with horror."

The 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons addressed the issue more comprehensively, aiming to restrict weapons that cause unnecessary suffering or indiscriminately affect civilians.

Protocol III, in particular, prohibits targeting civilians or military objects in populated areas with incendiary weapons and bans their use on forests unless they are used to conceal military targets.