This Video Does Not Show Russian Air Force's ODAB-500 Thermobaric Bomb

Misbar investigated the widely circulated footage and found the claim to be misleading.

A reverse image search revealed the video making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to Russia or Ukraine.

There are no recent reports indicating that Russia has utilized the ODAB-500 bomb against Ukraine.

This Explosion Occurred in Syria in 2019

Misbar's team traced the video back to an earlier version, which dates back to December 12, 2019, on YouTube. The content features what is claimed to be the detonation of an "ODAB 500P" device in Syria.

The description accompanying the video suggests that it might have been filmed in Syria, with the text stating, “A short video demonstrating the operation of an aerial bomb appeared on the network. Those who posted the video on social networks claim that it could be the use of the ODAB-500P air bomb. It is alleged that the bomb was used in Syria.”

Sputnik, a Russian state-owned news agency, uploaded the same video to a published article on December 12, 2019.

Expert Views on the Depicted Explosion

Sputnik reported that images depicting a massive explosion and the subsequent shockwave occurring somewhere in Syria have sparked debate among experts. These discussions revolve around determining the type of bomb responsible for causing such extensive destruction.

The video's creator claims that the explosion resulted from the detonation of the Russian ODAB-500 thermobaric bomb. This type of munition generates an immensely high pressure at the explosion's center, equivalent to 30 atmospheres on Earth. Such a force leaves little chance of survival within a radius of at least 30 meters from the blast.

However, opposing viewpoints exist among experts. Some assert that it was a conventional explosion, suggesting that the phenomenon observed in the images is merely a shockwave, visible due to the condensation of water vapor.

Deployment of the ODAB-500 PM Bomb in Syria

As reported by the Insider outlet, referencing an investigation by the British charity Action on Armed Violence, the Syrian conflict has witnessed the deployment of some of the deadliest conventional weapons.

Among these, the ODAB-500 PM, commonly referred to as the "vacuum bomb," stands out. This weapon boasts an impactful blast radius of approximately 30 meters and has been confirmed to have been utilized in Syria during the course of the war.

The Syrian Civil War

The Syrian civil war is an ongoing and complex conflict taking place in Syria. It involves multiple factions, including the Syrian Arab Republic led by President Bashar al-Assad (backed by both domestic and foreign supporters), as well as various domestic and foreign groups. These factions oppose not only the Syrian government but also each other, often forming different alliances and coalitions.

The initial unrest in Syria emerged on March 15, 2011, as an extension of the broader 2011 Arab Spring protests. These protests were fueled by dissatisfaction with the Syrian government. Over time, the situation escalated into a full-fledged armed conflict, particularly following the forceful suppression of protests that had initially called for the removal of President Assad.

In the period spanning from March 2011 to March 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Office estimated that the ongoing conflict in Syria resulted in the tragic loss of 306,887 civilian lives. Further data comes from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which says that by March 2023, the SOHR had documented a total of 503,064 fatalities. Among these, at least 162,390 were civilians who tragically lost their lives. 

ODAB-500 Russian Bomb 

The ODAB-500 is a modern Russian (originally Soviet) aviation bomb with an air-fuel-type design. It measures 220 cm in length and 450 millimeters in diameter, weighing 392 kg with 93 kg of explosive-fuel material.

Developed for the Soviet Air Force in the late 1970s, it falls under the first generation of Soviet air and fuel bombs. Its main purpose is to incapacitate enemy personnel and destroy surface targets. 

Read More

Olga Skabeyeva Did not Admit 284,000 Losses on The Russian Side

2021 Video Shared as Russia Recently Bombing Ukraine