Russian forces lose rare Tosochka flamethrower for first time in combat

Defense Express reported that Russian forces have lost their rare 220mm heavy flamethrower system, the TOS-2 "Tosochka," on the battlefield in Ukraine. This marks the first confirmed loss of the weapon, destroyed on the Pokrovsk front. Photos of the destroyed vehicle appeared on social media, but the exact cause of its destruction remains unclear. It is suspected that FPV drones were involved.

The TOS-2 "Tosochka" is an upgraded version of the TOS heavy flamethrowers, previously used by Russia in Ukraine, such as the TOS-1 "Buratino" and TOS-1A "Solntsepek." The TOS-2 was first showcased in 2020 and reportedly began to be deployed on the battlefield in late 2023. The first confirmation of its use in Ukraine appeared in January 2024, when a reconnaissance drone captured images of the vehicle in Luhansk, although it escaped unharmed at that time. 

It's still unclear how many TOS-2 units are in service with the Russian military, but estimates suggest their numbers are limited, with 55 TOS-1A "Solntsepek" systems reportedly in use as of 2024.

• Defense Express development director Valerii Riabykh says that Russian heavy flamethrower systems can strike with thermobaric projectiles, which are very dangerous weapons.