Italian outlet Il Giornale reports that Russia’s TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems continue to play a central role in Moscow’s push across the Ukrainian battlefield. According to the publication, the system retains its importance at the operational level, functioning as a weapon capable of rapidly shifting the balance of power by striking critical positions and command hubs of opposing forces.

The newspaper notes that the combination of thermobaric firepower and rapid engagement allows the system to influence Russian maneuver operations and exert psychological pressure on defending troops, undermining the cohesion and effectiveness of their resistance.

Journalists point out that Solntsepyok remains one of the most impactful platforms in Russia’s arsenal. Its firing range — from a few hundred meters to several kilometers — makes the system adaptable and suitable for diverse mission profiles, including direct fire support for assault units.

Military analyst and Arsenal Otechestva editor Aleksei Leonkov previously emphasized that the TOS-1A demonstrates strong performance in the conflict zone, even though its current battlefield applications differ from the original concept. He recalled that the system was initially intended for burning out terrain contaminated with chemical or biological agents.