Russian military aircraft dropped eight glide bombs on residential districts of Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city, in a 90-minute attack Sunday evening, according to regional officials. The strikes killed one person, a 71-year-old woman, and wounded 31 others, including a 16-year-old girl. The bombs damaged 22 apartment buildings across four districts, local authorities reported Monday.
The attack follows repeated Russian use of glide bombs—Soviet-era munitions retrofitted with guidance systems—which can carry up to 3,000 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of explosives. Ukrainian officials stated the country has no effective countermeasures against these weapons, which have become a central feature of Russia’s air campaign since its invasion in 2022.
Ukrainian drone strikes and Russian counterattacks reported
In a separate incident, Ukrainian drone debris killed six people in Arkhipo-Osipovka, a small town on Russia’s Black Sea coast in the Krasnodar region, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev. An additional 40 people were wounded in the attack. Russian-installed officials in Crimea also reported three deaths and two injuries from overnight Ukrainian strikes on the peninsula, though no further details were provided.
Zelenskyy urges more Patriot air defenses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed calls Sunday for additional U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, stating that only these interceptors can reliably stop ballistic missiles. He emphasized the need for partner nations to provide Patriot packages, noting their scarcity amid global conflicts. Zelenskyy posted on social media that the world possesses Patriot missiles but required political decisions to release them to Ukraine.
Zaporizhzhia remains contested
Zaporizhzhia city, the capital of the Zaporizhzhia region, remains under Ukrainian control despite Russia’s capture of the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and other parts of the region. The area is one of four Ukrainian territories—alongside Donetsk, Kherson, and Luhansk—that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022, though its forces do not fully occupy all claimed areas.
Weaponry and tactics
Glide bombs, also known as precision-guided munitions, have been a hallmark of Russia’s aerial campaign due to their ability to inflict severe damage while minimizing risk to Russian pilots. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a high-arcing trajectory, glide bombs are released from aircraft at lower altitudes and use aerodynamic surfaces to glide toward targets. Ukraine has repeatedly requested advanced air defense systems to mitigate these strikes, but supply constraints persist amid competing global demands.