Full Breakdown
Russia’s Glide-Bomb Campaign Generates Repeated Friendly-Fire on Its Own Territory
6/5/2026, 5:07:48 AM
Core Incident: Glide Bombs Striking Russian-Controlled Areas
Since early 2023 the Russian Air Force has launched air-launched glide bombs from inside its own territory toward Ukrainian targets. Independent open-source monitoring by the group Astra has documented that the same weapons have repeatedly impacted Russian-controlled land, including the Belgorod region, injuring civilians and creating large craters. The incidents are classified as friendly-fire because the munitions were intended for enemy positions but fell on Russian soil.
Escalating Use: 2023-2026 Timeline
- 2023: Russia began “hammering” Ukraine with dozens of glide-bomb attacks per day, marking the first large-scale deployment of FAB general-purpose bombs fitted with UPMK guidance kits.
- 2024: 165 friendly-fire incidents were recorded.
- 2025: 143 incidents were logged.
- 2026 (through late May): Astra reported at least 25 additional incidents, bringing the cumulative total for the year to 25.
The tempo of strikes has risen steadily, with daily deliveries now exceeding 100 glide bombs.
Data & Statistics: Sorties, Bombs, and Incidents
- Fighter sorties: The UK defence ministry estimates the Kremlin conducts over 200 sorties per day.
- Glide bombs delivered: Approximately 180–250 glide bombs are dropped daily.
- Friendly-fire incidents: 165 (2024), 143 (2025), 25 (2026 to date).
- Civilian impact: In Belgorod, a FAB-500 with a UPMK kit created a 60-foot crater and injured two women.
Official Statements & Responses
The UK defence ministry’s intelligence update attributes the surge of self-inflicted strikes to procedural lapses in arming aircraft and execution errors by crews. It highlights crew fatigue and inadequate training as systemic factors. The Russian defence ministry, while not commenting on the latest incidents, previously acknowledged a “abnormal descent of aviation ammunition” after a Su-34 mistakenly released a bomb over Belgorod in April 2023.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts cited in the Business Insider report argue that the high rate of friendly-fire may also stem from faulty or low-quality UPMK guidance kits. Local authorities in affected regions have documented the physical damage and civilian injuries, reinforcing concerns about the reliability of the modified munitions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Russian defence ministry did not respond to a Business Insider request for comment outside regular business hours, leaving a gap in official Russian perspective on the 2026 incidents. No independent verification of the alleged guidance-kit defects is provided in the available sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These instances demonstrate continued errors in Russia's ability to successfully employ their munitions on intended targets,” — UK Defence Ministry, intelligence update
- “The frequency of these occurrences likely demonstrates a degree of air and ground crew fatigue within the Russian force, as well as exposing inadequate military training,” — UK Defence Ministry, intelligence update
- “abnormal descent of aviation ammunition” — Russian Defence Ministry, April 2023 statement
- “Russian Defense Ministry/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Analysts said that year that the rate of friendly-fire incidents, which often injure or kill civilians in Russian border cities such as Belgorod, may have been due to the guidance kits being faulty or of poor quality.” — Analysts cited in Business Insider
What’s Next
The UK defence ministry indicated it will continue monitoring the glide-bomb campaign and the associated friendly-fire risk as sortie rates remain high. Further assessments may focus on whether Russia adjusts training protocols or equipment standards to reduce self-inflicted damage.
