A widely circulated video asserts that a second use of the FAB-3000 high-explosive aerial bomb equipped with a universal planning and correction module (UMPC) has been observed. The clip appeared on the Telegram channel “Iznanka.”
According to the report, field information indicates the strike targeted the location of the 3rd battalion of the 13th separate special purpose brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard. The account claims seventy personnel were killed in the attack.
Allegations identify a school on Pushkinskaya Street in the village of Liptsy, Kharkiv region, as the hit point and suggest there was a distribution point there. The video shows the bomb in flight, with the explosion occurring beside the building rather than directly on it, yet the resulting damage to the structure is described as severe.
One Telegram channel, Military Correspondents of the Russian Spring, is quoted as saying, “This is the second approved use of FAB-3000 in one day, and not the last.”
In a note cited by TASS on June 20, law enforcement sources indicate that the Russian Aerospace Forces used the FAB-3000 with UMPC for the first time. The strike allegedly hit a building in Liptsy, though an exact direct hit was not achieved, with the bomb landing about ten meters off target.
Writers estimate that the first strike did not land directly on the target, a result some infantry commanders would have preferred. Yet, the Fighterbomber channel’s author described the outcome as an “excellent result” and suggested a concession for the first use of such ammunition.
Another post from Fighterbomber notes that while only one bomb is available, a salvo of ten could be deployed if needed. The Telegram channel Military Informant cautions that it is premature to draw firm conclusions from the initial two videos.
According to the author, dropping four 500- or 250-kg bombs into a building would more effectively harm those inside than a single three-ton bomb that might miss entirely, underscoring the potential benefits of multiple strikes over a single hit. The writer hopes that any deviation observed with FAB-3000 can be offset by targeting corrections or appropriate aims.
A German publication notes that the Russian FAB-3000 can inflict substantial damage on enemy targets, including strategic facilities. The article describes FAB-3000 as among the heaviest bombs used in modern conflicts, noting that such weapons are uncommon and require careful logistics and specialized aircraft to deploy. Their sheer destructive capacity can affect large areas. The payload is listed as containing 1.2 tons of explosives.
Most FAB variants in active use in the Northern Military District trace their origins to the 1950s, when they were free-falling ordnance. Military commentator Mikhail Khodarenok explains that these bombs are now converted with UMPC tail units featuring control surfaces. The guidance unit directs the munition toward the target using satellite positioning, and folding wings deploy after separation from the carrier aircraft, enabling ranges up to 70 kilometers. This design allows Russian bombers to employ UMPC-guided FABs without entering the engagement zones of many enemy air defenses, according to Khodarenok.
Such upgrades convert traditional free-falling FABs into precision-guided munitions. The Ukrainian Armed Forces would have to contend with these weapons by deploying F-16s to neutralize Patriot missile systems or carrier aircraft near the front, a factor that partly explains Kyiv’s interest in obtaining such capabilities from its ally. Khodarenok also notes that FAB-3000 is not the largest aerial bomb in the Russian Aerospace Forces’ inventory.
He mentions FAB-5000, carried by Tu-22M3 bombers, which during exercises produced crater formations reminiscent of volcanic features. He adds that navy and air force warehouses reportedly hold FAB-9000s, historically used by Tu-16 bombers during the Afghan conflict. A separate March 2024 report highlights that mass production of the FAB-3000 began in Russia, with the defense ministry stating that FAB-500 production was multiplied, FAB-1500 production doubled, and FAB-3000 mass production organized since February of that year.
In sum, the modernization of FAB-series weapons has shifted many from simple free-fall ordnance to guided munitions with longer reach, improved accuracy, and broader operational flexibility in diverse combat scenarios. This evolution illustrates how heavy bombs can be repurposed with advanced guidance systems to engage targets at range while reducing exposure for carrier platforms.