Ukraine claims that the widespread use of guided bombs is fueling Russia’s advancements.

Russian advances in Ukraine are being fueled by the mass use of “drop-and-forget” guided bombs containing foreign components, with up to 500 being fired a week, according to a Ukrainian government analysis. These high explosive and cluster bombs fitted with “UMPC” guiding systems with a range of 40-60km are posing a central threat on the frontline, pushing back Ukrainian forces.

A recent Ukrainian government report obtained by the Guardian revealed that these weapons played a key role in the destruction of the eastern city of Avdiivka and its subsequent seizure by Russia. The report stated that Russia took full control of Avdiivka in mid-February, marking its biggest gain since capturing Bakhmut last May.

The Russian military is easily transforming freefalling Soviet design bombs into guided ones by adding a UMPC “planning and correction module”, cheap wings, and satellite navigation systems. These “drop-and-forget” bombs are being used to target frontline areas, minimizing the risk of Russian aircraft being hit by Ukrainian air defenses.

The lack of capacity within Ukrainian air defense systems has allowed Russia to overwhelm them with these guided bombs. Despite facing sanctions, Russia has had no difficulty in importing foreign-made components for these weapons.

The Ukrainian report also highlighted civilian casualties and infrastructure damage caused by these guided bombs, emphasizing the devastating impact of Russia’s military tactics in the region. The use of foreign components in these bombs, sourced from countries like China, Thailand, and Turkey, has raised concerns about the growing cooperation between Russia and these nations in the conflict.