Russian warplanes have conducted a strike on Ukrainian positions in the southern sector of the front using high-precision glide bombs, according to a new video released by the Defense Ministry in Moscow.
In a Telegram post on Thursday, the ministry shared footage of a twin-engine Su-34 strike jet with two pilots inside taking off from an airfield at an unspecified location. At some point during the sortie, a plane can be seen dropping at least four bombs, which then deploy small wings of their own.
Officials said that the strike targeted Ukrainian fortified positions and troops in the southern part of Russia’s Donetsk Region and used high-explosive bombs equipped with a gliding and correction module. Several Russian Telegram channels suggested that the bombs weighed 500kg each.
In January, the New York Times described the glide bombs as Russia’s weapon of choice for destroying Ukrainian bunkers, with Kiev officials admitting that they pose a “very serious threat” as they are difficult to intercept. Ukrainian Telegram channel DeepState, which covers the conflict, described the bombs as a “miracle weapon” against which Kiev has “practically no countermeasures.”
According to Russian and Western military experts, glide bombs can travel dozens of kilometers before accurately hitting their intended target.
To counter the Russian Air Force, Ukraine has for months been asking the West for deliveries of US-designed F-16 fighter jets that are widely expected to start arriving in the embattled country later this year.
However, Politico, citing sources in the Ukrainian military, said that the delivery would be of little value as it was coming too late, and Moscow was already testing countermeasures against the American jets.
Watch Russian Helicopters Strike Ukrainian Stronghold and Personnel
The Russian Aerospace Forces are a highly integrated branch of the nation's military, responsible for air, space, and missile defense operations. It includes both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing Russian Aerospace Forces helicopters striking Ukrainian military positions and personnel in the Kupyansk area.
"A strike group of the Army Aviation of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation consisting of Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ helicopters, Mi-35M transport and combat helicopters, and Mi-8 multi-purpose helicopters struck a position and an accumulation of enemy forces in the Kupyansk area in the zone of the special military operation," the ministry said.
It is noted that the crews of the helicopters carried out the strike with unguided C-8 air-to-air missiles, then carried out an anti-missile maneuver with the help of an onboard defense complex and successfully returned to the takeoff site.
Russian troops hammer Ukrainian military, energy sites over week — top brass
Russia delivered 39 massive strikes on Ukrainian military, energy and mercenaries’ deployment sites over the week in retaliation to Kiev’s attempts to damage its oil and gas and energy facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday.
"On March 31 - April 5 of this year, the Russian Armed Forces delivered 39 combined strikes by ground-based and air-launched long-range precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukrainian energy sites, military-industrial enterprises, air defenses, arsenals, fuel depots and temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian army units and foreign mercenaries in retaliation to the Kiev regime’s attempts to inflict damage on Russia’s oil and gas and energy facilities," the ministry said in a statement.
The goals of the strikes were achieved and "all the designated targets were destroyed," it stressed.
Ukrainian army suffers 270 casualties in Kupyansk area over week
The Ukrainian army suffered roughly 270 casualties in battles with Russian forces in the Kupyansk area over the past week, the ministry reported.
"Throughout the week, Western Battlegroup units operating jointly with aircraft and artillery inflicted casualties on manpower and equipment of four Ukrainian mechanized brigades and two territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Yampolovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Stroyevka in the Kharkov Region. The enemy’s losses amounted to 270 personnel, 2 armored combat vehicles, 22 motor vehicles and 13 field artillery guns," the ministry said in a statement.
In addition, Russian forces repulsed 10 counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 95th air assault, 57th motorized infantry and 60th mechanized brigades near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Russian troops also destroyed four field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, the ministry reported.
Kiev suffers over 2,110 casualties in Donetsk area over week
Russian forces improved frontline positions and repulsed 15 Ukrainian army attacks in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost more than 2,110 troops and 146 weapons systems over the week, the ministry reported.
"In the Donetsk direction, Southern Battlegroup units improved their tactical frontline position in successful operations. They inflicted casualties on formations of four assault, three airmobile and eight mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army near the settlements of Belogorovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Kurdyumovka, Novomikhailovka, Kleshcheyevka, Spornoye, Andreyevka and Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They also repelled 15 counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 31st, 67th and 72nd mechanized brigades, 80th and 92nd air assault brigades," the ministry said.
The enemy’s losses in the Donetsk direction over the past week amounted to more than 2,100 personnel, 6 tanks, 11 armored combat vehicles, 89 motor vehicles and 40 field artillery guns, it specified.
Russian forces liberate Vodyanoye community in Avdeyevka area
Russian forces liberated the community of Vodyanoye in the Avdeyevka area and pressed ahead with their advance, the ministry reported.
"In the Avdeyevka direction, Battlegroup East units liberated the community of Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defense and taking more advantageous sites," the ministry said.
Russian air strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower fires inflicted casualties on personnel and military hardware of six Ukrainian army brigades and repulsed 39 enemy counterattacks near the settlements of Semyonovka, Novgorodskoye, Berdychi, Tonenkoye, Umanskoye and Pervomaiskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, it said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Avdeyevka direction over the past week amounted to more than 1,695 personnel, 3 tanks, 15 armored combat vehicles, 23 motor vehicles and 19 field artillery guns, the ministry reported.
Russian forces improve frontline positions in south Donetsk area over week
Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on seven Ukrainian army brigades in the south Donetsk area over the past week, the ministry reported.
"In the south Donetsk direction, Battlegroup East units improved their tactical frontline position and inflicted casualties on seven Ukrainian army, National Guard and territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Urozhainoye and Ugledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Malinovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in the south Donetsk direction over the past week amounted to more than 760 personnel, 8 tanks, 2 armored combat vehicles, 24 motor vehicles and 11 field artillery guns, it specified.
Kiev loses over 240 troops in Kherson area over past week
The Ukrainian army lost more than 240 troops and 14 field artillery guns in battles with Russian forces in the Kherson area over the past week, the ministry reported.
"The enemy lost more than 240 personnel, 19 motor vehicles and 14 field artillery guns, including an M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery gun and two M777 artillery systems of US manufacture," the ministry said.
Russia’s Dnepr Battlegroup units inflicted casualties in well-coordinated operations on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s mountain assault and three mechanized brigades, a marine infantry brigade and three territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Vysshetarasovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Rabotino, Nesteryanka, Novosyolovka and Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye Region, Ivanovka and Novotyaginka in the Kherson Region, it specified.
Russian forces destroy three Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft at airfields over week
Russian forces destroyed three Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft at airfields over the past week, the ministry reported.
"Over the week, missile troops, artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian groupings of forces destroyed three Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 attack aircraft at airfields and five S-300 anti-aircraft missile launchers," the ministry said.
Russian air defenses destroy three Ukrainian fighter jets, 1,119 UAVs over week
Russian air defense forces destroyed three Ukrainian fighter jets and 1,119 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past week, the ministry reported.
"Aircraft and air defense forces destroyed two Su-27 fighter jets and a MiG-29 fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force, five Hammer and JDAM guided aerial bombs, 91 rockets of the HIMARS, Vampire and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems and 1,119 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.
Seven Ukrainian soldiers surrender to Russian troops over week
Seven Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to Russian troops over the week, the ministry reported.
"Over the week, seven Ukrainian army personnel surrendered," the ministry said.
In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 583 aircraft, 270 helicopters, 18,892 unmanned aerial vehicles, 495 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,691 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,264 multiple rocket launchers, 8,674 field artillery guns and mortars and 20,627 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.
