russian media have begun boasting about the use of the OFZAB-500 high-explosive incendiary bombs by russian Aerospace Forces near Kupiansk. These 500 kg bombs, allegedly employed against Ukrainian positions, were captured in drone footage shared by russian sources. However, claims of their “first use” are misleading.
Read more: UMPK Dismantled and Analyzed: What's Inside the russian Kit Turning Dumb FAB Into a Guided Bomb (Video)
The OFZAB-500 bombs have been part of russia’s arsenal since the start of the full-scale invasion. For instance, on March 9, 2022, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine demonstrated the disarming of such a bomb dropped on Chernihiv. Russia’s use of these munitions to target civilian areas underscores their ongoing disregard for international norms.
More recently, attention has turned to russia modifying these bombs with UMPK kits to create guided variants, transforming them into precision weapons akin to KAB munitions. Reports of this modification surfaced in April, contradicting claims of novelty. Despite this, the threat posed by these thermobaric munitions remains severe.
The OFZAB-500 bomb contains a solid thermobaric mixture, OM-100MI-3L, the same incendiary compound used in the RPO-A Shmel flamethrower. This modern one-stage thermobaric weapon generates intense heat (1,500–2,000°C) and a devastating shockwave. Its “fire cloud” can penetrate shelters, causing destruction even in fortified positions.
Russia has also deployed similar thermobaric weapons, such as the ODAB-1500 bombs, since February 2023. The continued use of these munitions highlights the evolving and indiscriminate nature of russia’s tactics in Ukraine, combining lethality with a blatant disregard for civilian safety.
Read more: Ukrainian Sappers Neutralize Rare russian FAB-500T Bomb Near Zaporizhzhia (Video)
