Russia claims to have killed 300 Ukrainian soldiers with thermobaric strike

Russian Armed Forces General Staff Deputy Head Alexei Kim reportedly informed the Russian Defence Minister about a "precision hit with thermobaric ammunition." Consequently, as many as 300 Ukrainian soldiers were killed – CNN reported on a Saturday, citing the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Many reports from Russian media or representatives are elements of propaganda. Such announcements are part of the information war led by the Russian Federation.

Lieutenant General Alexei Kim stated that the attack targeted the "location of the nationalist formation 'Kraken',", and "thermobaric bomb detonation" was employed in the strike.

Thermobaric bombs are a type of thermobaric weapon. According to the Lieber Institute for Law & Warfare at the United States Military Academy in West Point, the destruction caused by thermobaric weapons results from the shock wave they generate, in addition to the vacuum that is created as a result of the fuel-air mixture drawing in oxygen to sustain the detonation, CNN highlights.

Kim also reportedly told Shoigu that "just in the past week, owing to the effective operation of reconnaissance and strike systems, three American Patriot systems, a Vampire missile launcher, over 10 foreign artillery systems, as well as fuel and ammunition depots were destroyed".

The deployment of thermobaric bombs by Russia in Ukraine had previously been reported by Ukrainian authorities and British intelligence.

The Saturday reports have yet to be confirmed by Ukrainian and international sources.