UK experts are teaching Ukrainians to make can-sized bombs that can bring down buildings, report says

• British explosive experts are teaching Ukrainians how to build can-sized bombs by hand.
• Similar technology was reportedly used to bring down a building on Russian troops in Bakhmut.
• “If we have a high-priority target, we of course use this equipment against it,” one fighter told CNN.

Ukrainian soldiers fighting against Russia are reportedly being taught how to make powerful, can-sized bombs by British explosives experts.

The weapons have been used to target individual Russian soldiers and bring down Russian-held buildings, according to CNN.

“If we have a high-priority target, we of course use this equipment against it,” one anonymous Ukrainian soldier told the TV channel.

“This equipment is used to destroy the enemy,” they added. “We use it to produce explosive devices we can use on the ground, on the battlefield, or in the air as munition for drones.”

CNN’s Nic Robertson describes the bombs as a “secret weapon” in Ukraine’s army. 

Similar technology was also used to bring down a building on dozens of Russian troops in Bakhmut, per CNN.

Russia claimed it had captured the destroyed eastern city last week, but Ukrainian forces are believed to be planning a counter-offensive.

As well as teaching Ukrainian soldiers how to build can-sized bombs, the British experts are bringing key components – including switches, microchips, and 3D printers – to Ukraine, according to CNN.

It tends to be faster for Ukraine to get key supplies via experts coming into the country than through its NATO trading partners.

Leaked files published last month showed that the UK had the highest number of special forces personnel operating in Ukraine, followed by Latvia, France, and the US.

The UK has also supplied the Ukrainian army with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, NATO-standard Challenger 2 battle tanks, and attack drones since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.