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Destructive Impact of Glide Bombs in Eastern Ukraine
Explore the devastating effects of glide bombs in Eastern Ukraine, examining their impact on civilian infrastructure, human lives, and the broader implications for military conflict in the region.
Destructive Power of Glide Bombs in Eastern Ukraine
In the shadowy confines of a cellar in the eastern Ukrainian town of Toretsk, soldiers remained oblivious to the proximity of Russian glide bombs crashing nearby. Yet, the abrupt shift in air pressure, accompanied by bone-rattling explosions, served as a grim reminder of the bombs’ devastating capabilities, as they tore through structures in the vicinity.
As dawn broke, bringing a brief respite from the relentless attacks, several Ukrainian soldiers bravely ventured outside. They were met with the sight of a fierce fire, ignited by one of the bombs, raging through the ruins of a building roughly 150 yards away—a stark reminder of the precarious line between life and death in this war-torn landscape.
In the brutal theater of warfare in Ukraine, numerous perils lurk, but Ukrainian soldiers contend that glide bombs might just be the most harrowing. These are free-fall munitions, many of which date back to the Soviet era, now enhanced with pop-out wings and sophisticated satellite navigation systems, transforming them into precision-guided weapons.
Commonly referred to as “KABs” or “FABs,” these bombs vary in weight from 500 to 6,000 pounds and are loaded with hundreds of pounds of explosives. A single detonation has the potential to reduce a high-rise apartment building to mere rubble, obliterating even the strongest concrete fortifications.
“It is terrifying and happens so quickly,” stated Stanislav, a 28-year-old Junior Sergeant with Ukraine’s 32nd Mechanized Brigade, as Russian fighter jets unleashed their powerful guided bombs toward his unit. “I find myself praying every single time.”
In recent months, the utilization of these bombs by Russian forces has had a profoundly destructive impact, shifting the tide of battle in eastern Ukraine and enabling Moscow to steadily gain ground in the Donetsk region. Moreover, these glide bombs have facilitated the systematic razing of entire towns and villages at an alarming pace.