Zelensky urges Biden to allow Ukraine to strike Russian airfields to end Kremlin bombing campaign – POLITICO

Mykola Bielieskov, a Ukrainian military analyst and researcher at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, agrees with the president, saying that the only way to destroy a Russian glide bomb is either to shoot down the fighter-bomber carrying it or to strike the airfield where it is based.

“Only Patriot, with its expensive missiles, can shoot down bombers. But it is necessary to bring the Patriot closer to the front line to get a bomber, which makes the launcher vulnerable,” Bielieskov told POLITICO.

According to him, it is necessary to strike Russian airfields located about 250 kilometers from the border. If Russia cannot use these airfields, it will significantly reduce the intensity of the bombing campaign and increase the workload of aircraft if they are forced to fly from more distant airfields, the analyst added.

Russian glide bombs have become a major Kremlin tactic and a growing problem for Ukraine since the start of 2024, Bielieskov said.

Russia drops around 120 to 150 per day against Ukrainian military positions. In addition, it regularly launches bombs weighing 500 to 1,500 kilograms on the main Ukrainian cities on the front line.

Over the weekend, a gliding bomb launched from Belgorod destroyed a postal logistics terminal in Kharkiv, killing one man and injuring nine, including a toddler, the Kharkiv prosecutor’s office reported on Sunday.