Russian TOS-1A Solntsepyok opened fire on Russian infantry

21 September, 2023 A direct hit of a Russian TOS-1A on a trench with Russian soldiers. Source: freeze frame from the video The Russians fired on their own fighters from the TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system.

Ukrainian 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade 'Magura' published a video of the incident on its social media page. The footage shows a Russian tank being blown up twice on its own mines, followed by Russian armored vehicles. After the Russian infantry left the armored vehicles, they ran to the nearby trenches.

When the Russians took up the trenches, the Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system opened fire at their position. Unguided 220mm thermobaric rockets TBS-3, TBS-3?, TBS-4 and TBS-4? of this system are very dangerous for infantry, even in well-fortified positions.

The principle of such shells is that a small charge of an ordinary explosive explodes and instantly spreads a cloud of combustible gas around. After that, the main charge is instantly detonated, which causes the gas cloud to detonate. The danger is that the gas spreads through the area, penetrates the trenches and dugouts, and then detonates.

Video from 'Magura' shows thermobaric munitions detonating near trenches, some of them hitting the positions.

A direct hit of a Russian TOS-1A on a trench with Russian soldiers. Source: freeze frame from the video

Militarnyi reported the destruction of these dangerous flamethrower systems using FPV drones. On September 3, 2023, Militarnyi also reported the destruction of the TOS-1? in the Luhansk region by the Achilles Company of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade.

In July 2023, the system was destroyed by SSU special forces in the Bakhmut direction.