A Russian UMPB-5 guided bomb strikes Kharkiv from a distance, injuring 33 civilians. A new threat to Ukrainian defenses already under pressure.
Russia has used the UMPB-5 guided bomb, a 250 kg device equipped with an inertial guidance system, for the first time in a strike against Kharkiv. Fired from a distance of around 100 km by a Su-34, the munition struck an industrial area and a residential neighborhood, injuring more than 30 civilians, including children and an infant. The attack highlights the increased range of Russian weapons and the growing difficulty for Ukraine to intercept these devices. Ukrainian authorities have described the act as a possible war crime, while calls for stronger air defenses are growing.
New Russian weapon tested in Kharkiv
On July 24, 2025, Russian forces fired two UMPB-5 bombs at the city of Kharkiv from the Russian region of Belgorod, approximately 100 kilometers away. The attack was carried out by a Su-34 aircraft and targeted both civilian industrial infrastructure and a residential area, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office. This is the first confirmed use of this bomb in actual combat.
The strike caused fires, damaged several buildings, and destroyed parked vehicles. The prosecutor’s office said the impact point showed deliberate use against non-military areas. This new guided munition confirms a widening of targets, with civilian targets now regularly targeted.
Technical characteristics of the UMPB-5 bomb
The UMPB-5 is distinguished by its 250-kilogram explosive charge, comparable to standard high-explosive bombs used by the air force. However, its reinforced metal casing, which is thicker than that of the previous UMPB D-30, increases the fragmentation effects. The injuries caused are therefore more extensive, even at a distance from the point of impact.
The bomb is equipped with an inertial guidance system, supplemented by aerodynamic control surfaces, allowing it to glide towards its target after being dropped. Its range is estimated at approximately 100 kilometers, making it usable out of range of most Ukrainian defense systems, including NASAMS and Buk-M1 batteries.
This model belongs to the family of Russian gliding bombs, developed since 2022 to compensate for the lack of stealth aircraft. The accuracy of these weapons remains high, with an error margin estimated at between 7 and 15 meters, according to available data. This development shows Moscow’s willingness to intensify the use of low-cost weapons with high destructive power.
Heavy human toll and significant civilian damage
According to initial estimates, the attack injured 33 people, including four children. Among the victims are a 10-year-old girl, a 28-day-old infant, a pregnant woman, and a 17-year-old boy and girl. Several are suffering from severe psychological trauma related to the detonation and impact of the explosion.
Rescue workers reported several damaged homes, including 17 apartment buildings and 3 single-family homes. Private vehicles were set on fire or hit by debris. A civilian industrial site, an electrical substation, and an administrative building were also affected. The crater caused by the explosion highlights the power of the device.
Local authorities and civil defense forces secured the area within an hour of the attack. The psychological impact on residents is considered significant, especially as Russian strikes have intensified since June, particularly on towns near the front line.
A long-range strike strategy against Ukrainian defenses
The development of munitions such as the UMPB-5 reflects a strategy of attrition adopted by Moscow. The use of guided gliding bombs allows the Russian army to strike without entering Ukrainian-controlled airspace. These devices offer an inexpensive solution, but are difficult to intercept.
According to data compiled by the Ukrainian military and Western analysis agencies, Russia is believed to have used more than 3,000 similar guided bombs (UMP-K and D-30SN types) between January and May 2024. The estimated production rate is 500 to 700 units per month, depending on the capacity of Russian munitions factories.
The range of the UMPB-5 puts them out of reach of many ground defense batteries, including those of the Ukrainian army, which still mainly has aging S-300 or Buk-M1 systems. This imposes increased dependence on modern Western systems such as the Patriot, or on electromagnetic jamming systems supplied by Germany and the United States.
Legal consequences and international reactions
The Kharkiv prosecutor’s office has opened a war crimes investigation based on the use of guided weapons against non-military targets. The evidence gathered (surveillance videos, ammunition fragments, witness statements) will be used to support a potential case before international courts.
Pressure is mounting on European and North American partners to quickly provide appropriate defense systems. The Ukrainian president and defense minister have insisted in public statements on the urgent need to obtain means capable of neutralizing gliding munitions, particularly in urban areas.
This attack is interpreted as an attempt by Russia to demonstrate its air power projection capabilities while circumventing the constraints associated with manned aviation in contested areas. It also reflects Ukraine’s growing difficulty in protecting its civilian population in the face of technological advances in Russian strikes.
A worrying development in the air theater
The July 24 strike highlights an operational shift in the regional air balance. By relying on long-range, low-cost gliding munitions, Moscow is limiting the risks to its pilots while increasing strikes against cities and civilian infrastructure.
If the UMPB-5 were to go into mass production, Ukraine would have to consider rethinking its defense strategy: strengthening radar coverage, developing autonomous jamming capabilities, and acquiring thermal sensors capable of detecting low-altitude flights.
At the same time, the psychological warfare induced by these strikes, which target populated areas, is placing a heavy logistical and social burden on Ukraine. The human cost exceeds the material damage, creating permanent insecurity in large cities near the border.
Without rapid improvement in its air defenses, Ukraine could see a proliferation of such attacks with major strategic and humanitarian consequences.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.