Has Putin unleashed the world’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb? Terrifying video shows huge mushroom cloud explosion in Ukraine – as Russian troops seize key town

Russia has reportedly used the world’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb after a terrifying video showed a massive explosion of mushroom clouds in Ukraine.

The footage shows a massive explosion and fireball, followed by a towering column of thick smoke rising high above the already heavily damaged Vovchansk in the Kharkov region.

There has been no official confirmation or denial from Moscow on whether the ODAB-9000 thermobaric or fuel-air explosive was used.

The massive explosion comes as Russian forces captured the strategic city of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region from the Ukrainians after months of fierce fighting.

The ODAB-9000, also called the ‘father of all bombs’, causes an explosion that generates intense pressure and heat, which can even be fatal for people hiding in buildings or bunkers.

The bomb called the ‘father of all bombs’ causes an explosion that generates intense pressure and heat, which can even be fatal to persons inside buildings or bunkers.

The Ukrainian source, Colonel Vitaliy Sarantsev, said the claim that the ODAB-9000 was used may be a Russian attempt to demoralize the armed forces “by intimidating the local population and destabilizing the region.”

It is designed to destroy enemy positions over a wide area, including entrenched infantry and lightly fortified structures. The fuel-air explosion creates a long-lasting blast wave and a vacuum, which can collapse buildings and cause internal injuries to those in its radius.

However, some experts doubt whether the bomb was used.

Sources say the ODAB-9000 is so heavy that it would have to be deployed from a Russian strategic bomber – for example the Tu-160, Tu-95 or Tu-22M3.

The plane would have to come close enough to be shot down by a surface-to-air missile, and no movement of these bombers was recorded.

Ukrainian source Colonel Vitaliy Sarantsev said the claim that the ODAB-9000 was used may be a Russian attempt to demoralize the armed forces “by intimidating the local population and destabilizing the region.”

The spokesman for the Kharkov Regional Military Command also denied the ODAB-9000 claim.

Despite this, Pool’s number 3 Telegram channel, with 343,000 followers, has claimed that the bomb was an ODAB-9000.

However, some experts doubt whether the bomb was used. Sources say the ODAB-9000 is so heavy that it would have to be deployed from a Russian strategic bomber that would have to get close enough to be shot down.

The heavily damaged city of Vovchansk just before the alleged ODAB-9000 was dropped

Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, before the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022

They said: ‘The Ukrainian armed forces have never been so affected. The video shows how the Russian army uses an ODAB-9000 vacuum bomb with an explosive mass of more than 7 tons.

“It is considered the most powerful non-nuclear munition in the world.”

War analyst Sergei Karnaechov, with more than 147,000 followers, echoed this report.

Political analyst Yury Baranchik, with 72,000 followers, said: ‘In Volchansk, the Russian army used the ODAB-1500 vacuum bomb for the first time – according to other sources the ODAB-9000.

“The media is calling this bomb one of the most powerful non-nuclear munitions in the world – and that’s true….

‘The estimated mass of the explosive is 7,100 kg. While there is little official data on this munition, the externalities are clear.”

With Putin turning 72 next week, Russian officials are routinely looking for “presents” for his birthdays, and one of them could be this new bomb.

Ukraine confirmed yesterday that it was withdrawing troops from Vuhledar in the Donetsk region to protect its army and equipment.

With Putin turning 72 next week, Russian officials are routinely looking for “presents” for his birthdays, and one of them could be this new bomb.

An aerial view of the heavily damaged city of Vuhledar. The massive explosion comes as Russian forces captured the strategic city of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region from the Ukrainians after months of fierce fighting.

The capture of the city is seen as a major victory for Moscow.

Vuhledar is located on a railway line that connects the area with Russian-occupied Crimea and the rest of eastern Ukraine.

It is also seen as an important step towards Russia’s complete takeover of the Donetsk region, over which Russia has claimed sovereignty since September 2022.

The strategic victory follows the Russian army’s fastest advance in eastern Ukraine in more than two years.