In the shadow of the conflicts over Greenland, Iran and Venezuela, the war in Ukraine almost fell into oblivion. Meanwhile, the situation on the front is very tense. Russia is constantly bombarding Ukrainians with missiles and drones to break their resistance.
RussiansThey have improved old, insidious weapons using modern technology. Thanks to this modification, the “death zone” becomes even larger and the battle on the front becomes even more brutal. This weapon can destroy the enemy not only in trenches, but also in bunkers, which no longer guarantee safety.
These are remotely controlled, unmanned vehicles capable of firing thermobaric missiles. After the Ukrainians presented their “Krampus” almost a year ago, the Russians – as reported by the Institute for War Research (ISW) – are introducing a similar system called “Malwina-M”. It is light, cheap to produce and can be brought very close to the enemy without endangering your own soldiers.
Thermobaric weapons spray a mist of explosive material into the air, which then explodes. The effect is disastrous. An extremely strong shock wave and enormous amounts of heat are created. At the same time, oxygen from the environment is consumed. People die from high blood pressure, high temperatures and lack of oxygen – even when they are in shelter. Shockwave it also reaches rooms located behind walls or underground.
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Thermobaric weapons are a distant relative of the famous napalm bombs, which were first used at the end of World War II and caused severe burns to many people. The difference is that napalm is very hot and burns for a long time, while a thermobaric bomb causes an extremely short but even more powerful explosion with temperatures reaching up to 3,000 degrees.
So far, the Russians have used thermobaric weapons mainly from manned, heavy and slow vehicles. They had a limited range and were an easy target for the efficiently organized Ukrainian defense.
Ukrainian soldiers exercise in trenches during training in the Dnipropetrovsk region, March 13, 2025.Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Drones started this trend, but unmanned systems can also quickly develop in other areas, says Marcel Berni, a military strategy expert at the Military Academy of the Federal University of Technology in Zurich. — In the future, unmanned platforms will also fight each other on the ground, thus expanding the “death zone,” he says in an interview with Blick.
The pressure on Ukraine is growing
Both Ukrainians and Russians urgently need success. The front line is concreted and the Russians' territorial gains are minimal. In recent weeks, the Russians have been intensively attacking all of Ukraine using missiles and drones. According to the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, as of Tuesday, 5,635 apartment blocks remain without heating. — Putin's air offensive uses winter as a weapon and aims to plunge Ukraine into cold and darkness, Bernie notes.
A war of attrition that has been going on for almost four years therefore enters the next phase. There is no talk of peace talks for now.
According to Bernie the pressure on Ukraine will increase on all fronts. Another problem is that Europe's attention is increasingly focused on events related to Greenland. — This change carries the risk that even Ukraine's most loyal allies will be distracted by another strategic conflict, which may weaken their commitment, the expert adds.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
