Invaders burn alive in their positions: new Ukrainian VPR-20 Flamethrower unleashes 2,500°c blast

[Starmix]

Accordong to the Ukrainian troops , they are now using a new domestically produced VPR-20 infantry rocket flamethrower, a single-use launcher whose configuration resembles the Soviet-era “Shmel” system. Defense Express reported that fighters of the 3rd Army Corps, operating on the northern Donbas and Kharkiv fronts, have received an outlet, the weapon's effective aiming range is approximately 600 meters, with a maximum firing range of around 1,000 meters, parameters that broadly correspond to those of the older Soviet design.

The report also stated that the VPR-20 in its original configuration was first shown publicly at the IDEF 2021 defense exhibition in Turkey, where it featured a detachable trigger mechanism before the design was revised to the current integrated form On August 7, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it had codified and admitted to operation an unnamed domestically produced infantry rocket flamethrower, describing it as a portable weapon designed to destroy enemy firing points, light armored and automotive enemy vehicles, and enemy manpower behind cover and in open terrain.

The report also said that the arrival of the VPR-20 variant in combat units marks another step in replacing or supplementing legacy Soviet-origin systems with domestically designed ones, reinforcing the army's stock of short-range, high-impact weapons intended for use in dense urban environments and against entrenched Russian positions. Earlier, it was reported that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced the codification and operational approval of a new domestically-produced infantry rocket flamethrower carrying a thermobaric warhead.

In addition to the re[ort, this new portable weapon is designed to target enemy strongholds, lightly armored and automotive vehicles, and to eliminate enemy forces behind cover, obstacles, or in open terrain. The flamethrower is equipped with a rocket-propelled grenade containing a thermobaric mixture. The explosion of this grenade has a blast effect equivalent to that of a large-caliber artillery shell. The impact area creates a fireball with a volume of approximately fifteen cubic meters and a burning temperature of nearly 2500 degrees Celsius.

 

[gwolf666]

From my perspective, the incorporation of the VPR-20 into the Ukrainian forces represents a significant strategic advancement. The ability to engage targets in urban environments and difficult terrain with a portable, short-range weapon offers clear tactical advantages. Its similarity to the Soviet "Shmel" system demonstrates that Ukraine continues to adapt and modernize its weapons systems using its own resources, which is a sign of technological independence and military strength. The power of the thermobaric charge, with a devastating effect similar to an artillery shell, significantly increases the capacity to destroy fortified positions and enemy light vehicles. Furthermore, the fact that these weapons can be used against concealed or moving forces in densely populated areas reinforces the importance of having a variety of options on the battlefield. Undoubtedly, these developments reflect a conscious effort to strengthen the military with domestic resources and increase combat effectiveness.