Russia accidentally dropped at least 38 unguided bombs over its own territory in April 2023-April 2024, as reported by The Washington Post. The bombs, FAB-500 glide bombs carrying a 500-kilogram payload, fell in Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. Russia had deployed modified Soviet-era FAB-500s with enhanced guidance systems as an alternative to precision-guided missiles, starting in 2023.
Military expert Ruslan Leviev mentioned that despite the unreliable guidance systems, the practical effectiveness of the bombs remains high. Astra, an independent news channel, estimated that over 100 bombs have accidentally dropped on the Belgorod region between March and June 2024. Recently, nine more FABs and a missile fell in the border region.
Most of the dropped bombs did not detonate, except for an incident on April 21, 2023, in Belgorod city. Moscow has not responded to The Washington Post’s request for comment on the matter. The documents likely originated from Belgorod city’s emergency services.
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