Russian military forces used Su-34 fighter-bombers to launch glide-bomb attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia this Tuesday [1].
These strikes highlight the increasing reliance on precision-guided munitions to target urban centers, raising the risk of civilian casualties in southeastern Ukraine.
The attack caused significant damage to apartment buildings within the city [1]. Reports indicate that two people died as a result of the glide-bomb strike in Zaporizhzhia [1]. At least 15 civilians were injured in the same attack [1].
The strike in Zaporizhzhia was part of a broader series of aerial assaults across southern and eastern Ukraine on the same day. These operations included the use of drones and a ballistic missile, in addition to glide-bombs [2].
Across those combined regions, the total number of civilian deaths reached six [2]. The total number of civilian injuries from these combined aerial attacks was 30 [2].
Russian forces have increasingly utilized Su-34 aircraft to deploy these munitions, which are designed to extend the range of traditional bombs by adding aerodynamic wings and guidance systems [1]. This allows aircraft to release payloads from distances that may be outside the immediate reach of some short-range air defenses.
“Russian military forces used Su-34 fighter-bombers to launch glide-bomb attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia”
The use of glide-bombs allows Russian aircraft to strike Ukrainian cities while remaining further from the front lines, reducing the risk to the pilots. However, the resulting damage to residential infrastructure and the rise in civilian casualties underscore the difficulty Ukraine faces in defending against high-velocity, guided munitions that strike with immense force.
