Guided bombs Mass use behind Moscow's advances, Kyiv claims

The mass use of "drop-and-forget" guided bombs containing foreign components is driving Russian advances in Ukraine, with up to 500 now being fired a week, according toa Ukrainian government analysis.

- Daniel Boffey

High explosive and cluster bombs fitted with "UMPC" guiding systems with a range of 40-60km (25-37 miles) are now said to be a central threat on the frontline, forcing back Ukrainian forces.

According to a Ukrainian government report obtained by the Guardian, such weapons fired from afar by aircraft "played a key role in the destruction of [the eastern city of] Avdiivka and the seizure of its ruins by Russia". Russia took full control in February of Avdiivka, in the industrial Donbas region, its biggest gain since capturing Bakhmut last May.

The Ukrainian analysts write: "Russia uses UMPC bombs primarily to hit its targets in frontline areas, minimising the possibility of its own aircraft being hit by Ukrainian air defences. In just one week, from 26 February to 3 March, Russia used more than 500 [guided aerial bombs with a mounted UMPC]."

The freefalling Soviet design bombs used by the Russian military are being easily transformed into guided ones by adding a UMPC "planning and correction module", cheap wings and satellite navigation systems.

They are described in the military as being "drop-and-forget", as aircraft carrying them are able to fire out of reach of Ukraine's air-defence systems.