Russian forces have changed how they use Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems in the special military operation zone. According to military analysts, the main focus has now shifted to destroying Ukrainian UAV teams and drone command posts.
Izvestia reported that while such systems were previously used mainly against concentrations of enemy personnel and equipment, their priority targets are now shelters where drone operators are hiding.
Military expert Yury Lyamin said the mass use of drones has changed the battlefield. Large concentrations of troops and equipment have largely disappeared from the front line, while units now operate in a more dispersed formation. As a result, UAV operators working from covered positions have become some of the most valuable targets.
According to Lyamin, striking them requires powerful weapons capable of destroying fortified positions completely. He noted that heavy flamethrower systems were originally designed for such missions.
Chemical weapons expert Oleg Zheltonozhko also pointed out that accuracy becomes critical when attacking small, well-camouflaged and protected targets. Even with the exact coordinates of a dugout, an artillery strike does not always achieve the desired result. By contrast, the Solntsepyok’s thermobaric munitions have a wider damage area than standard artillery shells.