In the latest phase of the conflict, Russia has intensified its use of “glide bombs,” a highly destructive and relatively inexpensive weapon, to advance its offensive in Ukraine.
These bombs have become a crucial element of Russia’s military strategy, particularly in the northern town of Vovchansk, near Kharkiv. Reports suggest that over 200 glide bombs were used in just one week, reflecting the increased scale of these attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that in March alone, 3,000 glide bombs were dropped across the country.
Oleksii Kharkivsky, the police chief of Vovchansk, has witnessed the catastrophic impact of these bombs firsthand. “There are no words to describe the aftermath of a glide bomb attack,” he says. “You arrive to see people who are lying there, torn apart.” The surge in glide bomb usage has been devastating for Ukrainian forces in recent months, significantly impacting their defensive capabilities.
Glide bombs, built by adding fold-out wings and satellite navigation to old Soviet bombs, are cost-effective yet highly destructive. A recent report by the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) highlighted their decisive role in the February capture of Avdiivka, a once heavily fortified town in eastern Ukraine. Now, Russian forces are employing these bombs to target Kharkiv, leaving Ukrainian defenses struggling to cope.
Kharkiv has come under relentless attack from Russian glide bombs in recent weeks
The situation is dire in the Kharkiv region, where Kharkivsky has been aiding in the evacuation of front-line border villages. “Over the past six months, we were hit by glide bombs quite often, maybe five to ten bombs per week… but this month we’ve had far more than ever,” he explains. Russia’s ability to stockpile glide bombs stems from their relatively simple production process.
According to Prof. Justin Bronk, a specialist in airpower and military technology at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Russia has vast quantities of Soviet-era bombs, which can be easily converted into glide bombs. This conversion process involves fitting the bombs with pop-out wings and a satellite guidance system, enabling them to glide over long distances and target stationary positions with high accuracy.
The cost-effectiveness of these glide bombs is another factor in their widespread use. Prof. Bronk estimates that the cost per weapon is around $20,000 to $30,000. This low cost, compared to the multi-million dollar price tags of modern missiles, allows Russia to deploy these weapons extensively.
The concept of glide bombs is not new; during World War II, the Germans used the Fritz-X, and in the 1990s, the U.S. military developed the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), which added GPS guidance to traditional bombs.
Russia showed off its latest version of a 1.5-tonne glide bomb earlier this year
Earlier this year, Russia showcased a new 1.5-tonne glide bomb, illustrating the scale of destruction these weapons can cause. The FAB-1500, a commonly used glide bomb, weighs 1.5 tonnes and contains significantly more explosive material than a typical Russian 152mm shell, which has about 6.5kg of explosives. Even the smaller FAB-500 glide bomb contains over 200kg of explosives, making them capable of causing extensive damage to fortified positions and inflicting severe casualties.
The powerful blasts from glide bombs are particularly effective against well-fortified Ukrainian positions. Prof. Bronk explains that these bombs can create cave-ins and fatalities even in heavily fortified areas, posing a severe threat to Ukrainian forces. The psychological impact is also profound, as the sheer power of these bombs can undermine morale among both military personnel and civilians.
Ukrainian security analyst Mariia Zolkina describes the use of glide bombs as a “new era” in the conflict, allowing Russia to obliterate Ukrainian defensive lines without deploying infantry. “They have a completely different effect to artillery fire or even missile strikes,” she says. George Barros from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warns that a factory east of Moscow is setting up a production line for glide bombs weighing more than three tonnes, which could have a vast impact on Ukrainian fortifications and morale if deployed.
Currently, Ukraine has no straightforward solution to counter the threat of glide bombs. Prof. Bronk argues that intercepting the bombs mid-flight is impractical due to their sheer numbers, which would quickly deplete air defense ammunition. The more viable strategy involves targeting the planes that drop these bombs, either in flight or on the ground. However, this approach carries significant risks.
The U.S. Patriot missile system can shoot down these fighter-bombers, but positioning these systems near the front lines exposes them to potential attacks by Russian drones and ballistic missiles.
An alternative method involves using long-range missiles or drones to target Russian air bases. Ukraine has already employed this tactic, as seen in April when a drone attack on an airfield in Russia’s Rostov region destroyed several military aircraft. However, this strategy is constrained by international restrictions, as the U.S., Ukraine’s primary military aid provider, prohibits the use of its weapons systems on internationally recognized Russian territory, excluding Crimea and occupied Ukraine.
For now, Ukraine faces significant challenges in countering the threat posed by glide bombs. President Zelensky has repeatedly called for more air defense missiles and modern fighter jets, but the immediate situation remains precarious.
The increased use of glide bombs has severely affected morale, with both military personnel and civilians feeling the impact. “The military do not feel safe because their fortifications can’t protect them, while civilians living in Kharkiv, people used to living under shelling, can’t escape a bomb which can destroy a seven-storey building,” Zolkina notes.
In conclusion, the use of glide bombs by Russia represents a significant escalation in the conflict, presenting a formidable challenge to Ukrainian defenses. With their low cost and high destructive power, these weapons have become a crucial tool in Russia’s military strategy, leaving Ukraine in urgent need of effective countermeasures.