Russia has dropped at least 25 of its own glide bombs on Russian territory and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in the first five months of 2026. UK Defense Intelligence reported the figure on 3 June, citing data compiled by the Russian independent outlet ASTRA.
The errors are a tracked operational failure of an air force that conducts more than 200 sorties per day against Ukraine, launching 180-250 glide bombs depending on weather.
UK analysts attribute the misdrops to a combination of poor aircraft-arming procedures, poor aircrew execution, crew fatigue, and inadequate training.
The misdrops carry destructive and lethal consequences for the Russian population.
One killing in Belgorod's Dubove village
On 16 May, a Russian glide bomb fell on the house of a resident of Dubove village in Belgorod Oblast, killing one person, UK Defense Intelligence noted. The 2026 misdrop count is 143, down from 165 in 2024 and 143 in 2025, per ASTRA's tracking.
The cumulative absolute trend is down, but the volume of Russian glide-bomb launches has risen sharply, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy putting Russia's current rate at some 1,560 glide bombs per week against Ukrainian targets.
'Poor procedures' and aircrew fatigue
"Such incidents likely occur due to a combination of poor procedures when arming the aircraft prior to sorties, and poor execution by aircrew during missions," UK Defense Intelligence said.
The analysts assessed that the frequency of incidents "demonstrates a certain level of fatigue of the air and ground crew of the Russian army, as well as reveals an insufficient level of military training."
Russian authorities routinely conceal these incidents and blame Ukraine for civilian casualties when bombs hit populated areas, per ASTRA reporting from earlier this year.
The Su-34 workhorse
The Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber is the primary platform for Russia's glide-bomb campaign, launching FAB-series Soviet-era unguided bombs modified with UMPK kits that add wings, satellite guidance, and standoff range.
The system keeps Russian aircraft outside the reach of Ukrainian air defenses while delivering large warheads onto Ukrainian positions.
