Putin's 'father of all bombs' claim in Ukraine debunked by Kyiv
Pro-Russian sources claim that Putin's army used the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the world in Ukraine. This refers to the powerful thermobaric bomb ODAB-9000, called the "father of all bombs." The missile was allegedly dropped on Vovchansk. Kyiv warns that such false information could be part of an information war.
Propaganda channels on Telegram announced that the ODAB-9000 nine-metric-tonne bomb had been dropped on the ruins of the town of Vovchansk. A recording allegedly showing the moment of detonation also appeared online.
"Father of all bombs"
Ukrainian armed forces refuted reports of the alleged use of the ODAB-9000 bomb by Russian occupiers after a few hours. According to the "Kharkiv" Operational-Tactical Group, such false information may be a part of an information war.
"The information about the alleged use of the ODAB-9000 bomb by Russian occupation forces in Vovchansk is not true" – reads the statement.
Colonel Vitaliy Sarantsev, the spokesman for the "Kharkiv" Operational-Tactical Group, explains that such a missile requires an appropriate carrier, which theoretically could be the strategic bomber Tu-160. However, the Ukrainian military did not record any activity of these aircraft.
"A missile of smaller weight and power was used, and its explosion was utilised by propagandists to create a dramatic image," assures Sarantsev.
"Intimidation of the local population and destabilisation of the region"
The spokesman suggests that such reports could be part of an information war aimed at "demoralising the Ukrainian military, intimidating the local population, and destabilising the region".
Why such behaviour among Russians? Tabloid The Sun claims that "the explosion aroused great interest just a few days before Putin's 72nd birthday." Allegedly, dropping such a bomb was supposed to be a "gift" for the Russian dictator.
The ODAB-9000 is considered Russia's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. It was tested only once in 2007. It is an air-dropped bomb with a volumetric explosion, unofficially called the "father of all bombs" in Russia, as the counterpart to the American GBU-43/B, the so-called mother of all bombs.
