Russia has significantly reduced the intensity of attacks using guided bombs on Ukraine; however, this precision weapon still poses a serious threat to both military personnel and civilians, reports Business Insider.
Factors contributing to the decrease in strike intensity include successful attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian airbases and ammunition depots during the summer and fall, as well as improvements in Ukraine's air defense systems.
The guided bombs that Russia has been actively using since the onset of the war are equipped with kits that convert standard munitions into precision weapons. They are difficult to intercept due to their short flight time, low radar visibility, and unpredictable trajectories.
Major Yuriy, a member of the electronic warfare unit of Ukraine's National Guard, stated that the number of attacks has decreased by approximately 70% compared to the summer. He attributed this to a series of strikes on Russian bases and possible concerns among Russian pilots due to the arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine.
Yegor Chernev, the deputy chairman of the Rada committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, noted that strikes on Russian airfields have forced Russia to relocate tactical aviation deeper into its territory. This has reduced the frequency of sorties and increased detection time for Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine is also effectively utilizing electronic warfare, which diminishes the effectiveness of Russian guided bombs. George Barros from the Institute for the Study of War confirmed that these measures affect the support for Russian ground troops and slow their advance.
The Threat Persists
Despite the reduction in attacks, guided bombs continue to cause significant casualties. For instance, a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia on January 10 resulted in the deaths of over ten people and left more than 30 injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on this attack: "This once again shows what Russia truly wants. They desire only war and only victims."
On the front line in the eastern Donetsk region, Barros observed a correlation between the decrease in guided bomb attacks and the slowdown of Russia's advance over the past month or two.
"Russian troops there are very fatigued and very depleted," he said.
According to the expert, to completely eliminate the threat from guided bombs, Ukraine needs further supplies of long-range weapons from the U.S. and NATO. This would allow for constant pressure on Russian airbases and minimize the aerial threat.
War in Ukraine: What You Need to Know
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 10:00 PM on January 9, there have been 144 combat encounters with the enemy on the front. The most enemy attacks were recorded in the Pokrovsk direction, where occupiers launched 37 assault and offensive actions.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that Russia has already lost 700,000 soldiers killed and wounded in the war against Ukraine and will continue to incur significant losses. He mentioned that over three years of full-scale war, Moscow has sustained greater losses than in all other conflicts combined since World War II.