Video footage is being shared across social media of Ukranian’s making Molotov cocktails to defend themselves against Russia’s military.
The footage posted on Twitter by Ukrainian diplomat Olexander Scherba shows Ukrainian civilians including many children making the petrol bombs.
In the video, large groups can be seen tearing styrofoam and stuffing it into empty glass bottles filled with flammable fluid. Hundreds of the finished DIY weapons are then loaded by the crateful into vans.
Accompanied by Ukrainian music, the video has a patriotic feel. While making the cocktails, civilians can be seen smiling, hugging and sharing beverages and Mr Scherba added the message, “God, I love my country” alongside the post.
The footage is comes after Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence urged civilians in a Twitter post last week to begin making the Molotov cocktails to use against Russian troops.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence posts Molotov cocktail throwing instructions on their Twitter account
'Make Molotov cocktails, neutralise the occupier! Peaceful residents - be careful! Do not leave the house!'
He later released graphics not only instructing people how to make the weapons but on how to launch the makeshift bombs at tanks. The pictures advise Ukrainians to aim for the man hole’s on top of the tank, windows and engine grill.
Instructions have also been issues across Instagram, Facebook and television and radio channels.
Cheap and easy to make, Molotov cocktails are considered emblematic of civil unrest. They generally consist of an incendiary fluid such as petrol in a glass bottle with an ignition material such as a wick in its mouth. On impact, this causes a large explosion.
Brewery’s in Ukraine have halted production of their beers and re-allocated their resources, particularly their glass bottles to make the cocktails.
In the past few days, videos and pictures have emerged of Ukrainian citizens using petrol bombs to destroy Russian tanks as Putin’s military advance.
