Record Aerial Bombardment Reported by Ukraine
The Russian Federation dropped a record 5,328 aerial guided bombs on Ukraine during October 2025, according to a report from Ukraine's Defense Ministry on November 4, 2025. This figure represents the highest monthly total recorded since the beginning of 2025, indicating a significant escalation in aerial attacks.
Escalation and Scope of Attacks
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry highlighted that the scale of these strikes continues to grow, describing the situation as an intensifying 'air terror'. Over the first ten months of 2025, Russian forces have deployed approximately 40,000 aerial bombs, a number equivalent to the total recorded throughout the entire year of 2024. These guided aerial bombs, often referred to as KABs (Korrektiruyemaya Aviatsionnaya Bomba), are fitted with aerodynamic surfaces and guidance systems designed to enhance their accuracy against designated targets.
Targets and Impact of Guided Bombs
The guided bombs are primarily used to target Ukrainian troop positions and frontline cities. However, civilian infrastructure has also been affected. In late October, Russian forces struck Odesa Oblast with extended-range guided bombs for the first time, causing damage to civilian infrastructure. Similarly, Mykolaiv Oblast experienced its first guided bomb strikes on its outskirts since the start of the full-scale invasion on October 16. Other regions such as Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are reportedly under constant guided bomb attacks. The expanded use of these bombs, combined with new UMPK (Universal Gliding and Correction Module) modules, has significantly increased their range and frequency.
Challenges for Ukrainian Defense
Ukrainian military and intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned that Russia is expanding its use of guided munitions to strike from greater distances, aiming to limit aircraft exposure to Ukrainian air defenses. Experts note that these heavy, iron-constructed bombs are nearly impossible to shoot down due to their high speed and altitude upon approach, unlike cruise missiles or drones. This poses a significant challenge for Ukrainian air defense systems, as the bombs are often launched from within Russian territory or Russian-occupied areas, beyond the reach of current defenses.
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