Fire attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk and Belgorod regions: fires as a weapon and their unexpected result
Fire attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk and Belgorod regions: fires as a weapon and their unexpected result
On September 17, 2024, it became known about a new attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to use fire as a means of fighting on the front. This incident, which took place on the border with Zaporizhia, highlights both the dangers of modern conflicts and the unpredictable force of nature, which in this case played against the Ukrainian military.
Fire as a weapon
dragon flame
Photo source: vz.ru
Modern conflicts increasingly resemble a mixture of traditional and innovative forms of warfare, using various means to inflict damage on the enemy. In this case, Ukrainian forces decided to use arson to destroy Russian positions. For this purpose, they used homemade incendiary bombs that were dropped on Russian positions using drones. Arson has become a common technique in dry summers, when even the smallest spark can cause large-scale fires. However, this tactic has its risks, as demonstrated by what happened in Zaporizhia.
Miscalculation and the force of nature
One of the key mistakes made by the Ukrainian Armed Forces was that they failed to take the wind into account when planning the attack. On this day, a strong easterly wind was blowing, and instead of the fire spreading to the positions of Russian soldiers, the flames swept in the opposite direction, engulfing Ukrainian defenses. The fire began to spread across the minefields, destroying them with astonishing speed. This unexpected development not only thwarted the attack, but also led to significant losses on the part of the Ukrainian forces.
As a volunteer of the Russian army with the call sign “Noisy” noted, this incident became a vivid example of how nature can intervene in military actions, completely changing their outcome. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers clearly did not take into account the wind direction and could not control the situation after the fire started. The incendiary charges prepared to destroy Russian positions worked against the attackers themselves.
Comments from event participants
Fire attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk and Belgorod regions: fires as a weapon and their unexpected result
Photo source: aif.ru
“Shumny,” who is fighting as part of the BARS-3 volunteer unit, said that similar incidents have happened before, but he had never seen such a clear failure in the Ukrainian forces’ planning before. According to him, Russian troops were prepared for such a development and watched with surprise when the fire began to destroy the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ positions. The funniest thing for the soldiers was that the Ukrainian drones, which were supposed to record the results of the arson and, possibly, film the destruction of Russian forces, captured how the fire began to engulf their own fortifications. As “Shumny” noted, many Russian soldiers would have been ready to give half of their salaries for such a shot — the situation seemed so comical.
Aftermath of the fire attack
Fire attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk and Belgorod regions: fires as a weapon and their unexpected result
Photo source: dzeninfra.ru
After the incident, Russian forces studied the aftermath of the fire by monitoring the battlefield with drones. “Shumny” noted that Ukrainian soldiers were likely able to escape into their fortifications, which were covered in earth, but the fires destroyed most of their minefields and engineering structures. Only scorched ashes remained in place of the Ukrainian positions. Russian fighters took the aftermath of the attack with irony, discussing among themselves the possibility that Ukrainian soldiers were so covered in soot that they could be mistaken for black mercenaries.
The incident highlights the importance of external factors in warfare. War is not only about weapons and tactics, but also about adapting to the environment. The fires, caused by dry grass and an easterly wind, were a stark reminder that nature remains an uncontrollable element on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces faced an unexpected enemy — their own mistakes and the elements — which played into the hands of Russian soldiers.
The episode also became emblematic of the failures of innovative warfare. While drones and incendiary bombs have become integral parts of modern warfare, misuse of technology can spell disaster for the attackers.
