Ukrainian Brewery Switches From Making Beer To Molotov Cocktails. Here Is Why

As Russian forces moved deep into Ukraine, launching a military offensive, a brewery has quickly switched to making Molotov cocktails to aid Ukrainian fighters in the war.

Locals of Zaporizhzhia prepare molotov cocktails on the 4th day since start of large-scale Russian attacks in the country in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (Getty Images)

New Delhi: As Ukraine's defence ministry asked its citizens to make Molotov cocktails to take on invading Russian troops, a brewery has switched from producing beer to petrol bombs.

Only 10 days ago, Pravda brewery in Ukraine's Lviv was engaged in making beer. As Russian forces moved deep into Ukraine, launching a military offensive, the brewery has quickly switched to making Molotov cocktails to aid Ukrainian fighters in the war.

"Make Molotov cocktails, neutralise the occupier!," the Defence Ministry had tweeted. Soon after, videos of Ukrainian civilians helping to manufacture the improvised incendiary weapon went viral on social media. 

Google data also showed that searches for "how to make a molotov cocktail" spiked in Ukraine last week.

The Pravda brewery began producing the molotov cocktails for the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces on Saturday. A few dozen Molotov cocktails are ready for use already.

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Yuriy Zastavny, the owner of the brewery, told AFP that the idea came from one of his employees, many of whom took part in the 2014 revolution. 

The 2014 revolution refers to Kyiv's pro-Western uprising that ousted a Kremlin-backed regime.

"We do this because someone has to. We have the skills, we went through a street revolution in 2014. We had to make and use Molotov cocktails then," AFP quoted Zastavny as saying.

Molotov cocktails are relatively easy to produce and have become popular weapons for rioters, criminals and revolutionaries.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that whoever was ready to defend the country would be provided with weapons.

"We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities," he had said.

What Is A Molotov Cocktail?

Known as "poor man’s grenade" or "Molly", a Molotov cocktail is a type of projectile that consists of a glass bottle filled with a flammable liquid such as petrol, alcohol, or a napalm-like mixture.

A cloth wick is secured to the top of the bottle and is usually doused in alcohol or kerosene. To use the bomb, the wick is lit and the Molotov cocktail is thrown towards its target. When it smashes the target, the burst of fuel is ignited, creating a fireball.