Ukrainian drone operators from the Signum Battalion, part of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, successfully disrupted russian attempt to deploy the TOS Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system. The operation, carried out in two precise stages, showcased Ukraine's growing mastery of FPV drone tactics against high-value russian assets.
According to the Signum Battalion, the russian crew brought the TOS system to the front line, set up a firing position, and prepared to launch a strike, but Ukrainian forces were already tracking their movements.
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"The enemy brought their illusion of power – the TOS Solntsepyok system, deployed it, and prepared to strike. But the sky was ours," the Battalion reported.
In the first stage of the operation, Ukrainian FPV drones delivered targeted hits that forced the russian crew to abandon the system and flee in panic. The strikes were precise enough to neutralize the immediate threat and drive the Solntsepyok system from its firing zone without risking Ukrainian personnel.
As the system attempted to escape through a tree line, it came under continued pursuit from Ukrainian drone pilots.
"A cumulative hit damaged the rocket's engine, which then detonated inside the system," the unit explained.
While the TOS was not completely destroyed, the internal detonation left it heavily damaged and unfit for combat use.
The Solntsepyok system is one of russia's most fearsome weapons, a thermobaric multiple rocket launcher designed to devastate enemy fortifications and infantry concentrations. However, its vulnerability to aerial reconnaissance and FPV drone strikes continues to undermine its battlefield reputation. The latest incident adds to a growing list of Ukrainian operations that have neutralized or disabled russian heavy systems before they could fire.
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