Russia's terrifying vacuum bombs blast Mariupol: Video shows TOS-1a launcher in action for first time as it sets the ground on fire while unleashing a salvo of thermobaric missiles that vaporize bodies
Footage has emerged of Russian forces firing thermobaric missiles at the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, confirming the illegal use of devastating weapons against a civilian population.
The clips, published by Russia Today and the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), show a TOS-1a 'Heavy Flamethrower system' launching a salvo of rockets towards the southern port city which has already endured more than a fortnight of heavy bombardment, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Dozens of the thermobaric weapons were unleashed, trailing smoke as they soared through the air towards their helpless civilian targets, while the earth around the launcher was set ablaze.
Thermobaric bombs, also known as vacuum bombs or fuel-air bombs, are far more devastating than conventional explosives and work in two stages.
When a thermobaric charge is deployed, the first blast sprays a fuel vapour throughout the surrounding area, before a second blast ignites the vapour cloud in the air.
This results in a huge explosion, triggering a high-temperature fireball which sucks up the oxygen in the surrounding area and creates a massive blast wave.
The fireball can melt through defences and vaporize bodies caught close to the explosion, while the high-pressure blast wave can demolish buildings and rupture human organs.
The Ministry of Defence reported earlier this month that thermobaric weapons had been deployed in Ukraine, but this footage represents the first visual confirmation of their use against civilians in Mariupol. 
This image, taken from a video clip released by the Donetsk People's Republic, shows a TOS1a launch system deploying a salvo of thermobaric rockets
Dozens of the thermobaric weapons were unleashed, trailing smoke as they soared through the air towards their helpless civilian targets, while the earth around the launcher was set ablaze
The TOS-1a launcher, adorned with the 'Z' logo which has become a symbol of Russian aggression in Ukraine, is seen in this video released by the Donetsk People's Republic
Thermobaric explosives release an aerosol consisting of very fine particles, such as metal, flammable dusts or chemical droplets. An ignition source then ignites the cloud of particles and their rapid combustion causes an explosion and a vacuum in the surrounding vicinity
Mariupol has been under a Russian heavy bombardment for more than a fortnight, resulting in widespread devastation and hundreds of casualties
Local residents take cover as they hear blasts during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol
Bodies of civilians killed during the Russian bombardment of Mariupol are laid out in a park as they await burial by soldiers defending the city, on Sunday
Russian Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev laid out Moscow's offer late last night, saying Ukrainian troops and 'foreign mercenaries' who laid down their arms and raised white flags would be allowed to leave via 'humanitarian corridors', followed by civilians.
But Mariupol rejected the demands within minutes, with Pyotr Andryushenko - an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol - saying that Russian promises of amnesty could not be trusted and that troops defending the city were determined to fight down to the last man.
Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk called on Russia to stop 'wasting time on eight pages of letters' and open humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave the city instead of using them as bargaining chips.
She told news outlet Ukrainska Pravda: 'There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms. We have already informed the Russian side about this.'
Mariupol has been under siege for two weeks with little access to food or water and no power.
Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the besieged city on Ukraine's southern coast, but temporary ceasefire agreements to allow citizens to flee via humanitarian corridors have been repeatedly broken by Russian troops.
This image shows earth around the launcher set ablaze as the TOS-1a fires dozens of rockets towards Mariupol
Members of the DNR militia are seen loading the rockets into the TOS-1a launcher
Mariupol has been under siege for two weeks with little access to food or water and no power. Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the besieged city on Ukraine's southern coast, but temporary ceasefire agreements to allow citizens to flee via humanitarian corridors have been repeatedly broken by Russian troops
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies on Saturday, March 19, 2022 shows the aftermath of the airstrike on the Mariupol Drama theater, Ukraine, and the area around it
Service members of pro-Russian troops are seen atop of tanks during Ukraine-Russia conflict on the outskirts of the besieged southern port city of Mariupol
One of the videos of the TOS-1a, released by members of the DNR, declares the rockets are being deployed in Mariupol to 'target Ukrainian nationalists'.
The narration and terrifying footage of the rockets sent to deal yet more damage to Mariupol were accompanied by brash, propagandistic music.
'The DNR's People's Militia with support of the Russian armed forces during a special operation in Ukraine are targeting positions of nationalists around Mariupol with the help of the TOS-1a,' the narrator announced proudly.
General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the UK's joint forces command, previously told MailOnline that the consequences of thermobaric weapons in Ukrainian urban centres would be devastating.
'Unleashing thermobaric weapons and the mass concentrated use of heavy artillery will cause the indiscriminate, unnecessary and unwarranted slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent people,' he said.
Vacuum bombs can have devastating effects even for those who are not caught close to the epicentre of the blast.
Those on the fringe are likely to suffer many internal, invisible injuries, including crushed organs and severe concussions.
According to the Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, thermobaric weapons affect organs where there is a tissue interface of varying densities, such as the lungs, bowel and inner ear.
'It predominantly affects the pulmonary, cardiovascular, auditory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems,' it says.
When the blast wave hits, the alveoli of the lungs can be ruptured and leak fluid, resulting in a condition known as 'blast lung' which can prove deadly.
The cardiovascular system may also be affected by an air embolus in the heart or coronary arteries, while the blast wave can also severely damage the inner ear, resulting in deafness, extreme pain and balance problems.
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