Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ Russia has accidentally bombed itself at least 128 times with aerial bombs since March 2024, according to figures compiled by ASTRA. The repeated incidents may indicate widespread problems with its bombs, aircraft and pilot training. ⬇️

https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/1649732091637121024

2/ ASTRA reports that in the latest incident, a failed 500kg (1,100 lb) FAB-500 glide bomb was found in a field near the village of Neklyudovo in the Belgorod region, about 30 km from the Ukrainian border in the direction of Vovchansk (the probable target).

3/ According to ASTRA, this is at least the 128th aerial bomb that has fallen on Russia or Russian-occupied territory between March and October 2024, after Russia began fitting Soviet-era bombs with UMPK guidance kits to provide them with wings and satellite guidance.

4/ FAB-250 and FAB-500 bombs have been the most common failures, although this may represent the frequency with which they have been dropped rather than the likelihood of their failure. The biggest to have failed so far was a FAB-3000 which exploded in a field near Shebekino.

5/ Most of the time, failed glide bombs do not explode but glide into the ground at a shallow angle and land mostly intact, requiring bomb disposal teams to deal with them.

6/ On some occasions, bombs have fallen on populated areas. In April 2023, 7 people were injured and 31 houses and 10 cars were damaged when a Russian aircraft accidentally dropped two FAB-500s on Belgorod city, one of which didn't explode (see video at start of this thread).

7/ It's unclear why Russia is having so many problems with its bombs, but it may indicate a combination of poor pilot training, faulty equipment, and poor maintenance. Glide bombs are nonetheless a real and serious threat to Ukraine's forces. /end

Source:
t.me/astrapress/663…