The newest Russian glide bombs pose a heightened threat to fortified positions held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a risk highlighted by Igor Lapin, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee, during an interview on the YouTube channel Direct. In discussing the evolving arsenal, Lapin points to a focused upgrade in glide bomb technology that aims to penetrate defensive lines and disrupt fortified complexes. He emphasizes that Russia has not stood still in developing its military capacity and that the strength of its military-industrial complex must be accounted for when assessing regional security dynamics. This assessment frames glide bombs as a significant development, with tactical and technical characteristics that purportedly exceed earlier systems and show a potential for destroying prepared defensive works. Lapin notes that the change in weapon design could alter battlefield dynamics, particularly in scenarios that hinge on air-delivered ordnance against well-protected targets. He underlines the volume and variety of air-dropped weapons at Russia’s disposal, suggesting that this remains a persistent and troubling trend for Ukrainian defense planning that warrants close monitoring by regional military analysts and policymakers. The broader implication, as he frames it, is the necessity for ongoing evaluation of air superiority capabilities and the corresponding requirements for countermeasures in order to maintain strategic resilience against an expanding and maturing glide weapon program.
