Mykola Bielieskov, a Ukrainian military analyst and research fellow at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies, agreed with the president, saying that the only way to destroy a Russian glide bomb is to either shoot down the fighter-bomber carrying it or to hit the airfield where it is based.
“Only Patriot with its costly missiles can shoot down bombers. But it is necessary to bring the Patriot close to the front line to get a bomber, which makes the launcher vulnerable,” Bielieskov told POLITICO.
According to him, hitting Russian airfields some 250 kilometers from the border is necessary. If Russia cannot use those airfields, it will significantly reduce the intensity of the bombing campaign and increase the load on aircraft if they are forced to fly from more distant airfields, the analyst added.
Russia’s glide bombs have become a major tactic for the Kremlin and a growing problem for Ukraine since the beginning of 2024, Bielieskov said.
Russia has been dropping about 120 to 150 a day against Ukrainian military positions. In addition, it regularly launches 500-kilogram to 1,500-kilogram bombs at Ukraine’s major frontline cities.
Just this weekend, a glide bomb launched from Belgorod destroyed a post office logistics terminal in Kharkiv, killing one man and injuring nine, including a toddler, the Kharkiv prosecutor’s office reported on Sunday.
