Ukrainian drone operators achieved a historic first on February 2, destroying a Russian TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" thermobaric weapons system inside Russia's Belgorod region, eliminating one of Moscow's deadliest weapons used to devastating effect against Ukrainian cities.
The Bulava Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 72nd Black Zaporozhets Motorized Rifle Brigade conducted the precision strike using FPV (first-person view) drones, video of which shows four direct hits culminating in a spectacular detonation of the system's thermobaric ammunition. The TOS-1A, valued at over $10 million, was completely destroyed.
"This is the first time a Solntsepyok has been destroyed on Russian territory," the 72nd Brigade announced, marking a significant tactical achievement in Ukraine's cross-border operations. The destruction demonstrates both the growing sophistication of Ukrainian drone warfare and Kyiv's willingness to strike high-value Russian military assets wherever they pose a threat.
The TOS-1A represents one of the most feared weapons in Russia's arsenal. The heavy flamethrower system fires thermobaric rockets that create devastating pressure waves and oxygen-depleting fireballs, weapons specifically designed to destroy fortified positions and urban structures. Russia has deployed these systems extensively against Ukrainian cities including Mariupol, Severodonetsk, and Bakhmut, where their use against civilian areas has drawn international condemnation.
Thermobaric weapons operate through a two-stage process: an initial charge disperses fuel or explosive particles into the air, then a second charge ignites the cloud, creating an explosion far more powerful and sustained than conventional explosives. The pressure wave can collapse buildings and rupture internal organs, while the fireball consumes available oxygen, effectively suffocating those in enclosed spaces.
The strike video released by the 72nd Brigade provides rare real-time documentation of the destruction. FPV drone footage shows the TOS-1A positioned in what appears to be a staging area, followed by sequential strikes as drone operators guided munitions directly onto the target. The final hit triggers the system's ammunition load, producing the characteristic massive explosion associated with thermobaric compounds.
"Real-time footage from FPV drones, four precise hits of the target, cool detonation of ammunition, full destruction of the TOS-1A worth over $10 million," the unit summarized in their operational report. The clinical precision contrasts sharply with Russia's indiscriminate use of these same weapons against Ukrainian population centers.
In Ukraine, as across nations defending their sovereignty, resilience is not just survival—it's determination to build a better future. The destruction of the TOS-1A inside Russia sends a clear message: Ukrainian forces will pursue threats to Ukrainian civilians wherever they originate, and Russian territory no longer provides sanctuary for weapons systems used to terrorize cities.
The operation in Belgorod region represents part of Ukraine's broader strategy of degrading Russian military capabilities before they can be employed against Ukrainian positions or civilian infrastructure. By striking staging areas, ammunition depots, and command posts inside Russia, Ukrainian forces complicate Moscow's offensive operations and force Russian commanders to disperse assets away from the front lines.
The 72nd Brigade's success also highlights the evolution of drone warfare since the full-scale invasion began. What started with commercial quadcopters adapted for reconnaissance has evolved into sophisticated systems capable of precision strikes on high-value targets deep behind enemy lines. Ukrainian units have become among the world's most experienced drone operators, developing tactics that Western militaries are now studying closely.
The timing of the strike carries particular significance. On the same day Ukrainian forces destroyed the TOS-1A, Russia launched one of its largest missile attacks of 2026 against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, deliberately targeting civilian power and heating systems during freezing temperatures. The destruction of a weapon system designed to level cities provides a measure of tactical balance, even as the strategic challenge of defending against mass missile attacks continues.
For Ukrainian civilians who have sheltered in basements while TOS-1A systems reduced their cities to rubble, the Belgorod strike represents more than military achievement—it's accountability delivered through precision and courage. The 72nd Brigade's drone operators eliminated a weapon that has killed countless civilians, and they did so with the clinical effectiveness that characterizes Ukraine's defense of its sovereignty.
"Glory to Heroes from the 72nd Brigade!" the operational announcement concluded. In a war where Russia employs weapons designed for maximum civilian terror, Ukrainian forces respond with targeted strikes on military capabilities—a distinction that illuminates the fundamental difference between aggression and defense.
