Daily Reports
Russian Glide Bombs Cause Havoc in Ukraine and Russia
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen the deployment of devastating glide bombs by Russian forces. These bombs, weighing between 500 and 3000 kilograms, have been targeting the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. However, due to their unguided nature, many have inadvertently landed in Russia's own border regions, including Belgorod.
Unintended Consequences: Civilian Casualties and Property Damage
The Washington Post has reported that at least 38 Russian glide bombs have fallen in the Belgorod region, with only four detonating. These incidents have endangered the lives of Russian civilians, with several bombs landing near small towns like Graivoron, Rakitnoye, and Valuiki. The opposition media Astra revealed that seven civilians were recently killed in Belgorod due to a bomb, which Moscow denied was of Russian origin.
Strategic Errors and Technological Failures
Russian pilots have been releasing these bombs over their own territory to avoid Ukrainian air defenses, particularly the Patriot systems supplied by the West. Analyst Ruslan Leviev noted that the electronics in these bombs are often civilian-grade, making them less reliable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of intensifying their bombing campaigns, using bombs like the three-ton FAB-3000, which have a devastating potential radius of destruction.
- The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported the destruction of multiple Ukrainian drones over the regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod, with no significant damage or injuries. This comes as a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure and military targets.
- In addition to the bombings, Russia has claimed control over the villages of Sperny and Novoleksandrivka in the Donetsk region, despite ongoing violent clashes. The annexation of Donetsk and other regions by Russia in 2022 has been widely condemned as illegal by the international community.
