Ukrainian defense forces destroy Solntsepyok in Avdiivka sector

The Сontrol and Artillery Reconnaissance Battery shared the video on its telegram channel.

"The joint work of the Сontrol and Artillery Reconnaissance Battery by 110th Brigade and the Security Service of Ukraine's Special Forces A is an 'explosive mixture' for the Russians. TOS-1A Solntsepyok was destroyed. An impressive sight could be seen from tens of kilometers away," the message reads.

Since the beginning of the summer, this is the 12th destroyed TOS-1A system of the Russian army, six of which were hit in October, according to journalist Andriy Tsaplienko.

"The TOS-1A is considered a very dangerous weapon, as it uses flamethrower or thermobaric ammunition. However, it has serious drawbacks. For example, the system can fire a maximum range of 6 kilometers. Thus, the launcher needs to enter the area hit by artillery and ATGMs," Tsaplienko writes.

What is Solntsepyok and how does it work?

The heavy flamethrower system is used to destroy light armored vehicles and enemy manpower in open terrain. It is also used to destroy, for example, fortifications due to a powerful volumetric explosion.

The system's thermobaric munition forms an explosive mixture and then detonates it. During the detonation, the atmospheric pressure in the cloud jumps and drops just as rapidly. Even if the victim manages to survive the explosion itself, there is a risk of death from ruptured internal organs due to the sudden pressure drop.