A video has surfaced showing the deployment of the Russian heavy flamethrower TOS-1A Solntsepek within a designated military operations zone in Ukraine. The clip is labeled by DEA News as illustrating active combat use.
Drone footage documents the coordination between the Solntsepek and the BM-21 Grad system, revealing how Grad shells are employed first to shape the battlefield, followed by the ignition and delivery of TOS-1A missiles toward Ukrainian Army firing points and troop positions along the Avdiivka axis.
Observers note the sequence where Grad projectiles precede TOS-1A dispersals, with the accompanying narration underscoring the mode of engagement. The source claims that their synchronized employment provides a robust method for neutralizing fortified positions, leveraging a mix of effects to disrupt and suppress defender lines.
The TOS-1A Solntsepek, nicknamed Sun, entered service in 2001 and was designed to provide direct support to infantry and armored formations. Its primary role is to deliver heavy, thermobaric payloads to sap and breach entrenched positions, creating a psychological and physical impact on defenders while clearing routes for the advancing units.
Additionally, a former Russian Ministry of Defense release shows footage of strikes on Ukrainian targets conducted with the TOS-1A in forested terrain, illustrating the weapon’s claimed versatility in different terrains and its potential effects on concealed or fortified assets.
Analysts emphasize that videos from conflict zones should be interpreted with caution. While they highlight the tactical capabilities of a system like the TOS-1A, the broader strategic and humanitarian consequences of its use in populated or contested areas require careful consideration by international observers and policymakers. The ongoing discussion reflects how such systems influence modern battlefield dynamics and the balance of power in the region.