
Russia may have used ODAB-9000, known as the 'father of all bombs', on Ukraine during a recent attack on the Ukrainian town of Vovchansk as part of its ongoing war, if some reports online and social media posts are to go by.
ODAB-9000 is a 'vacuum bomb', considered the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the world. It packs a nasty punch, with an explosive power equivalent to 44,000 kilogrammes of TNT or Trinitrotoluene.
It falls under the category of 'thermobaric' weapons that can create a wave of blasts by using oxygen from the air.This gives them the moniker 'vacuum bomb' and makes them capable of wreaking havoc in large swaths of territory while suffocating the living beings in the impact area.
Watch the explosion below:
Disclaimer: WION cannot verify the authenticity of visuals shared on social media.
If the reports are confirmed, this would be the first recorded use of ODAB-9000 in combat, but the jury is divided on this.
The internet seems to be on a guessing game whether Russia indeed used the superbomb ODAB-9000, or a less lethal variety of it, or something altogether different.
According to some reports, what was used in Vovchansk, located in the Kharkiv region,maybe a smaller bomb, the ODAB-1500.
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There were some who suggested that the weapon used could have been an FAB-3000.
FAB-3000, which is a Russian acronym that translates into “High-Explosive Aviation Bomb”, is no mean beast either. It's a powerful weapon that can engage in long-range precision strikes on fortified positions.
Designers of the ODAB-9000 had earlier said that the bomb may not be deployed in the ongoing Ukraine war.
Did Russia break that promise?
Whatever the bomb used, the strike on Vovchansk was very powerful as one could see from the visuals.
(With inputs from agencies)
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.