Thermobaric weapons like the ODAB-1500UMPK raise serious ethical questions, as their indiscriminate effects in populated areas can cause civilian casualties and long-term environmental damage.
Caustic images have circulated across social media in recent days as Russia’s Su-34 tactical fighter-bombers dropped four ODAB-1500UMPK thermobaric weapons—also known as “vacuum bombs”—on targets in Ukraine. These attacks were part of a larger, devastating offensive aimed at breaking Ukrainian morale in the ongoing war.
The ODAB-1500UMPK stands out as a devastating thermobaric glide bomb. Like other thermobaric weapons, its lethality comes from its fuel-air explosive mechanism. This 1.5-ton weapon combines Soviet-era bomb technology with modern guidance systems, allowing Russian forces to strike fortified Ukrainian positions from standoff distances.
The ODAB-1500UMPK has been used with increasing frequency against distant Ukrainian targets—to great effect. The bloodcurdling weapon is but one of many examples the West now must grapple with of just how effective the Russian war machine has become.
How a Thermobaric Weapon Works
ODAB is the Russian acronym for the words meaning “Volume Detonating Aviation Bomb.” These thermobaric weapons are designed to create a massive pressure wave and intense heat by dispersing a fuel-air mixture that ignites upon detonation.
Unlike conventional high-explosive bombs, like the FAB-1500, the ODAB-1500UMPK focuses on volumetric explosion—sucking in oxygen from the surrounding air to fuel a protracted blast wave. In other words, the weapon is particularly effective against the trenches and bunkers that dominate Ukraine’s bloody frontlines. Rather than through shrapnel or an explosive shockwave, as most explosive weapons kill, a thermobaric bomb kills through heat—and because they must have air holes, fortified structures like bunkers offer little protection against them.
As for the “UMPK” suffix in the bomb’s official designation, the English translation of the Russian acronym is “Universal Gliding and Correction Module.” It was developed by Russia’s Tactical Missiles Corporation and introduced in early 2023, a year into the war. Essentially, the UMPK kit transforms the unguided “dumb” bombs into “smart” precision-guided munitions. The UMPK kit includes pop-out wings for gliding, a guidance system—likely inertial and satellite-based, such as GLONASS, Russia’s GPS network—and stabilizers.
With the UMPK upgrade, the bomb can be released from high altitudes and glide up to 37 miles to its target, allowing planes like the Su-34 Fullback or Su-35 Flanker to operate out of range of most Ukrainian air defenses.
Weighing approximately 3,307 pounds, ODAB-1500UMPK carries a thermobaric warhead filled with a liquid fuel mixture, such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide. Upon release, the bomb deploys its wings and navigates via pre-programmed coordinates or real-time corrections. As it approaches the target, a parachute deploys at around 164 feet to orient the bomb vertically, followed by detonation at 23-49 feet above ground for optimal dispersion.
Creating a fireball of up to 60 meters high, as well as a shockwave that can raze multi-story buildings, or collapse tunnels—all while causing severe internal injuries through overpressure—the ODAB-1500UMPK is a particularly fearsome weapon that has defined the Ukraine War. The blast radius is estimated to be around 328-656 feet, with lethal effects extending further in confined areas. This weapon is ideal for the kind of urban warfare that has defined the Ukraine War.
Russia Can Churn Out Thousands of UMPK Kits
Production of UMPK kits has ramped up, with Russian factories operating 24/7 to meet demand, converting older stockpiles into smart weapons at a fraction of the cost of a typical missile. Here again, the demands of the war have forced the combatants to race for access to cheaper, easier-to-produce weapons, such as the ODAB-1500UMPK.
Rather than being defined by their expensive legacy systems or their newest platforms, the Ukraine War has been defined by the two sides’ ability to quickly adapt their forces for the cheapest, most effective systems—a notion that Western militaries have yet to apply to their own forces.
The ODAB series traces its roots to Soviet-era research in the late 1970s, inspired by US fuel-air explosives deployed during their Vietnam War. Initial models like the ODAB-500 were tested in Afghanistan during the 1980s, where they proved effective against the caves of Afghan rebels. Post-Soviet Russia refined the technology, integrating it into systems like the TOS-1 “Buratino” flamethrower for ground-based thermobaric strikes. The more recent UMPK adaptation emerged as a response to Ukraine’s improving air defenses, such as through the US-made Patriot air defense missile system or the IRIS-T systems, which threatened Russian aircraft in close-support roles.
By 2023, Russia began mass-producing UMPK kits for various bomb sizes, from 551 to 6,614-pounds, including the ODAB-1500. This evolution reflects Russia’s shift toward cost-effective, high-impact standoff weapons amid ammunition shortages and Western sanctions.
Russia first deployed the ODAB-1500UMPK in Ukraine in March 2024, striking the village of Velkya Pysarivka in the Sumy region. Footage showed a massive mushroom cloud and fireball visible from miles away, destroying residential areas and infrastructure. Subsequent uses have been reported in hotspots like Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kupyansk, where Russian forces target Ukrainian troop concentrations, command posts, and fortifications.
Thermobaric Weapons Have Tilted the War in Russia’s Favor
In September 2024, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed an ODAB-1500 strike killed 40 Ukrainian soldiers near a deployment point. Another video from June depicted a strike in Siversk, Donetsk, showcasing the bomb’s precision against urban targets. Russia launches hundreds of glide bombs monthly, with the ODAB-1500UMPK used for high-value, hardened sites.
This has facilitated Russian advances in contested areas such as Avdiivka, where similar guided bombs overwhelmed Ukrainian defenses.
The ODAB-1500UMPK provides Russia with significant advantages. Extended range reduces pilot risk, while the thermobaric effect maximizes destruction against dug-in forces. Ukrainian soldiers report morale-shattering blasts, causing concussions and suffocation even for survivors. The introduction of the weapon has tilted the balance in Russia’s favor, enabling air superiority without exposing jets to ground fire—a key element in Russian strategy, given how effective Ukraine’s NATO-provided air defenses proved to be at the outset of the war.
As one might expect, accuracy issues persist. Inertial navigation is not always reliable, and GLONASS is subject to electronic jamming. Accordingly, Ukraine has successfully deflected some of Russia’s strikes by up to 100 feet, limiting their effectiveness. Despite these successes, though, Ukraine’s defenders lack the capacity for comprehensive defenses against these powerful Russian standoff weapons.
Russia’s military has proven they can simply swarm Ukrainian defenses, and while Ukraine may shoot down some of Russia’s weapons, Ukraine cannot take them all down.
Despite Controversy, Thermobaric Weapons Are Here to Stay
Thermobaric weapons like the ODAB-1500UMPK raise serious ethical questions, as their indiscriminate effects in populated areas can cause civilian casualties and long-term environmental damage. Indeed, international bodies like the United Nations have placed restrictions on such munitions. However, Russia has insisted that their use remains legal under existing international law—and has pointed to American use of the weapons during the War on Terror to justify their use in Ukraine.
Russia’s ODAB-1500UMPK exemplifies the fearsome adaptation of legacy weapons for contemporary conflicts, blending raw power with precision guidance. Its deployment in the Ukraine War has inflicted heavy damage on Ukrainian forces, underscoring the need for advanced countermeasures.
As the conflict evolves, this thermobaric glide bomb will likely remain a key tool in Russia’s strategy, raising ongoing debates about warfare ethics and escalation. With production scaling up, its impact could define future battles in Eastern Europe—and beyond.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Laskin Nikita.
