Ukraine accuses Russia of deploying devastating vacuum bomb

Ukraine's ambassador to the United States accused Russia of using a devastating vacuum bomb as Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion continues.

She accused Russia of "waging a brutal war and conducting crimes at the moment in Ukraine."

"They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention," Ambassador Oksana Markarova said following a meeting with members of Congress. "The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large."

A thermobaric weapon, or vacuum bomb, essentially creates a high-temerature explosion that sucks the air out of a victim's lungs and has a significantly longer duration than a conventional explosive, according to Reuters and ABC News.

Reports surfaced over the weekend that the weapon had been seen in eastern Ukraine near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. 

Markarova said Ukraine is working with President Joe Biden and his administration as well as Congress to help by providing military supplies and implementing harsh sanctions against Russia.

She also called for sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia's incursion.

"We will not surrender. We will continue defending our home," she said.

The International Criminal Court opened an investigation on Monday into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

"Russia... is now acting like Nazi Germany during World War II, essentially, killing innocent civilians. Today they shot into... not only residential areas but also orphanages and schools and kindergartens. It's horrible. They have to pay the price. They have to be isolated. They have to understand that it's not okay in the 21st century," Markarova told reporters on Capitol Hill.