Video reports circulating on social networks show the use of 3-ton heavy FAB-3000-M54 aerial bombs against fortified positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The materials claim that this type of munition was deployed by the Russian armed forces for the first time in the current conflict. News.
The central claim about this class of ammunition is its extraordinary destructive capability. Soldiers or observers note that the FAB-3000-M54 relies on a single explosive charge to generate a staggering blast effect. It does not require a fuel-air mixture, nor does it depend on a complicated guidance or steering mechanism to deliver its impact, which is why prodigious damage can be achieved with a relatively simple design. The discussion surrounding its efficiency emphasizes the power of a lone warhead delivering a massive energy release upon detonation, making it capable of overpowering many early-warning or countermeasure defenses in its path. News.
According to accounts from the first year of the special military operation in Ukraine, the widespread use of such aerial bombs was restrained by the operational air defense posture and the available protective measures of Ukrainian forces at the time. The implication is that the shift in tactic reflects changes in battlefield conditions, including the saturation or exhaustion of air defenses and the need to project power over longer distances. News.
Officials and observers indicate that the FAB-3000-M54 can reach targets as far as 80 kilometers from the drop zone, enabling bomber aircraft to strike on or behind lines that are traditionally considered secure from immediate aerial attack. This range expands the window for strategic or tactical strikes, reducing exposure of attack aircraft to shorter-range air defenses and presenting new challenges for enemy command and control as well as fortification layouts. News.
On June 20, reports state, Russian forces reportedly employed the FAB-3000 in an operational context within the war zone in Ukraine for the first time in a documented mission. The reported target was a four-story residence in the village of Liptsy, Kharkov region, with authorities indicating that Ukrainian forces had established a temporary deployment point within the building. The incident is described as part of a broader assessment of how the new munitions affect urban and semi-urban structures, including the potential for collateral impact and the strategic value of disrupting command and control nodes housed in residences or allied facilities. News.
Earlier communications from Russian sources also showed third-time imagery of the FAB-3000 being deployed in the Northern Military District area, underscoring a pattern of repeated use and potentially broader geographic dispersion. The repetition of these deployments appears to reflect a continuing evaluation of the bomb’s effectiveness against layered defensive positions and civilian infrastructure, while also signaling a tactical emphasis on deep strike capabilities. News.