Escalating Concerns Over Russian Glide Bombs and Ukraine’s Military Strategy

A troubling surge in the deployment of Russian guided glide bombs has resulted in a significant increase in attacks on Ukrainian cities, with reports indicating that as many as 800 strikes occurred in just one week during the summer months. This alarming trend has intensified discussions surrounding the controversial question of whether Ukraine should be permitted to utilize Western-supplied missiles to target military installations deep within Russian territory.

Amid growing indications that President Biden may be reconsidering the United States’ stance on this issue, it will take center stage during his upcoming meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington on Friday. This meeting follows a visit by their top diplomats to Kyiv on Wednesday, where they engaged with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss urgent requests for military support.

For several months, Ukraine has been advocating for the ability to employ Western long-range weaponry to strike at the military sites that Russia relies upon to launch missile attacks and to house the warplanes that deliver the devastating glide bombs, which have caused extensive damage to both Ukrainian forces and civilian areas.

This past spring, President Biden imposed specific restrictions on the range of American-made surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems available to Ukraine, limiting their reach to approximately 60 miles. This cautious approach stems from concerns that allowing Ukraine to carry out strikes deep within Russia could provoke a severe response from President Vladimir V. Putin.

U.S. officials have indicated that both Britain and France, who provided Ukraine with long-range, air-launched “bunker buster” munitions in 2023, seem to be awaiting President Biden’s approval before permitting these European missiles to be used on targets well within Russian borders. Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, emphasized the importance of a coordinated response among Western allies.

In response to the potential escalation of Ukraine’s military capabilities, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov issued a warning on Wednesday, stating that Russia is preparing “appropriate countermeasures” should the West decide to extend Ukraine’s operational authority. This statement, reported by RIA Novosti, a Russian state-run news agency, underscores the high stakes involved in the ongoing conflict and the potential for further escalation.