The ambassador to the United States accused Russia of using a thermobaric weapon during its invasion of her country.
The ambassador, Oksana Markarova, told reporters on Monday that Russia used a vacuum bomb the day before and said that the damage it is doing to Ukraine is large.
A senior US defense official said on Tuesday that it was unclear if Russia had used the type of weapons it has in Ukraine.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the US did not have confirmation that Russia had used a thermobaric weapon, but that if it were true, it would be a war crime.
The use of indiscriminate explosive weapons is against international humanitarian law and shows disregard for civilian lives, according to the non-governmental organization.
The footage from inside Russia appeared to show the heavy flamethrower, which can shoot thermobaric rockets, mounted on a T-72 tank.
A thermobaric weapon is a two-stage munition with a container of fuel and two different explosives.
The first munition is dropped or fired and the explosion causes a cloud of fuel to form in the atmosphere. According to a past study by Human Rights Watch, the second charge explodes the cloud, creating a blast wave and sucking out the surrounding oxygen like a vacuum.
The blast wave is capable of obliterating human bodies and lasts longer than typical explosives. Human Rights Watch said that the weapon is most effective in enclosed spaces and on people wearing body armor.
A 1993 CIA study said thermobaric weapons are particularly dangerous because they are prone to indiscriminate use.
During the 1969 border dispute with China, Russia was accused of using thermobaric weapons.
Even if the weapon is operated correctly, it can still be deadly. The victims will inhale burning fuel if the second detonation fails.
The study said that if the fuel deflagrates but does not explode, victims will be severely burned and will probably also inhale the burning fuel.
The heat and pressure created by the explosion cause the primary injuries. According to an article in the Journal of Military and Veterans Health, these weapons can create pressures as high as thousands of pounds per square inch. Normal atmospheric pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch.
The explosion causes air spaces in the body to be disrupted, including in the lungs, ears, and intestines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluid filling the lungs is the most common fatal blast injury.
Burn injuries sustained during thermobaric explosions are more severe than conventional high-explosive blasts because of the longer duration and subsequent burning of the fuel-heated air, according to a study conducted in 2009.
According to the study, secondary injuries sustained from thermobaric explosions are caused by flying glass and debris from nearby structures that interacted with the explosion and smoke.
It is not clear if Russia has used these weapons in its invasion of Ukraine, but US officials have said that Russia could turn to more aggressive tactics if it does. The use of these weapons on Ukrainian population centers could be very destructive.
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