Russia is increasingly utilizing “glide bombs” – inexpensive yet highly destructive ordnance – to push forward its offensive in Ukraine. Over 200 of these bombs were reportedly used in just one week to target Ukraine’s northern town of Vovchansk during Russia’s recent cross-border advance near Kharkiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that 3,000 such bombs were dropped on the country in March alone.
The mass deployment of glide bombs by Russia is a recent development that has proven to be devastating for Ukrainian forces in recent months. These bombs are created by adding fold-out wings and satellite navigation to old Soviet bombs, making them both affordable and destructive. Russian forces are now using glide bombs to target the northern city of Kharkiv, and Ukraine has struggled to counter them effectively.
The destruction caused by glide bombs is significant, with the most commonly used FAB-1500 bomb weighing 1.5 tonnes. Even the smallest glide bomb, the FAB-500, contains over 200kg of explosive material. This makes even well-fortified Ukrainian positions vulnerable to attacks.
Countering glide bombs poses a challenge for Ukraine, with intercepting them mid-flight not being a viable solution due to the sheer number of bombs at Russia’s disposal. The only effective solution, aside from a ground incursion, is to target the planes dropping them, either in flight or on the ground. However, this carries significant risks, as seen with the US Patriot surface-to-air missile launcher system being vulnerable to detection by Russian drones and ballistic missile attacks.
Despite the difficulties, Ukraine has been utilizing long-range missiles and drones to target Russian air bases as a means of defense. This approach, while effective, is not without its drawbacks, as the US prohibits Ukraine from using its weapons systems on internationally recognized Russian territory. Mientras esto no incluye Crimea ni Ucrania ocupada, significa que los aeropuertos dentro de Rusia están fuera de límites.
Entonces, por ahora, parece que no hay una respuesta fácil para Ucrania.
El presidente Volodymyr Zelensky ha pedido repetidamente más misiles de defensa aérea y el suministro de aviones de combate modernos.
Pero por ahora, Mariia Zolkina dice que la moral ha sido afectada por el aumento en el uso de bombas deslizantes.
“Los militares no se sienten seguros porque sus fortificaciones no pueden protegerlos, mientras que los civiles que viven en Járkov, personas acostumbradas a vivir bajo bombardeos, no pueden escapar de una bomba que puede destruir un edificio de siete pisos.”