Russia Sets Record with 8,300 Glide Bombs in July, Ukraine Destroys 30,000 Soldiers with Drones
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved new SBU operations, while the Defense Ministry reports record use of devastating Russian weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved new SBU operations, while the Defense Ministry reports record use of devastating Russian weapons.
Russian forces launched more than 8,300 glide bombs against Ukraine during July 2026, the highest monthly total since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday, August 4. The previous record of 8,266 bombs was set a month earlier, indicating a continued escalation in the use of this devastating weapon.
The data, citing figures from the General Staff, reveals the scale of an aerial campaign that targets not only military positions on the front lines. Russian guided aerial bombs, often referred to as KABs in Ukraine, are increasingly being used against densely populated residential areas in cities relatively far from the front line.
These are converted aerial bombs equipped with wings and precision guidance systems such as GPS, laser, or infrared targeting. Unlike traditional free-fall bombs, KABs can glide for dozens of kilometers before impact, allowing Russian aircraft, typically the Su-34, to launch them from outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses.
The size of the warheads varies by model, ranging from about 300 kilograms to as much as three metric tons, enough to destroy multi-story buildings with a direct hit. Despite the guidance systems, the weapon is often inaccurate and can be diverted from its course by powerful electronic warfare devices. Their use is responsible for ongoing civilian casualties in front-line cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, and occasionally in larger regional centers such as Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on his official Telegram channel that he had received a report from Oleksandr Poklad of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). "I have approved new operations for the Security Service of Ukraine. Today, Oleksandr Poklad reported on what was accomplished in July. We have set priorities for August. I am grateful to the SBU for strong positions," Zelensky wrote.
The President specifically highlighted the SBU's "Alpha" unit, which, according to him, was the most successful in terms of the number of eliminations in July. "It is precisely 'Alpha' of the Security Service of Ukraine that is top-1 in eliminations. We achieved the most. Just bravo!" he said.
Zelensky then revealed impressive figures on Ukrainian drone strikes. "In total, this July, on the front, all our units destroyed 30,272 Russians with drones. These are those eliminated and seriously wounded. And that is only what has clear video confirmation," he stated, adding that the trend on the battlefield remains unchanged and that Russians lose about 30,000 soldiers every month.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning about the takeoff of a Russian MiG-31K fighter jet, which is a carrier of aeroballistic Kinzhal missiles. "A MiG-31K is in the air,, PS Threat of use of aeroballistic 'Kinzhal' missiles!" was posted on the Operatyvny ZSU Telegram channel.
In his address, Zelensky emphasized the importance of air defense as the top priority. "It is important that partners hear Ukraine and know that every package for our air defense truly protects lives, people's lives," the Ukrainian president concluded.
