Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine this week alone, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 30. Guided aerial bombs are precision-guided munitions that have a shorter range than missiles, but are far cheaper to produce. The weapons are launched from aircraft within Russian territory, outside the range of Ukrainian air defense.
Civilian casualties from guided aerial bomb attacks are often reported in areas close to the Russian border, such as Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Sumy oblasts. Zelensky emphasized the need for Ukraine to have the necessary forces and means to combat these attacks.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported that Russia has dropped nearly 10,000 guided bombs on Ukraine since the beginning of 2024, highlighting the urgent need for long-range strikes and modern air defense.