Russian Warplane Accidentally Drops Bomb on Russian-Occupied Luhansk; Ukraine Faces Intense Missile Barrage

A Russian warplane unintentionally released a bomb over the town of Rubizhne in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, as confirmed by Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the region's Moscow-appointed government.

The FAB-250 bomb, carrying a high-explosive warhead, did not result in any injuries, according to reports from the Associated Press. This incident follows closely on the heels of another mishap just six days ago when Russia accidentally dropped munitions over the village of Petropavlovka in the Belgorod region.

Russia recently upgraded air-launched FAB bombs guided aerial bombs such as the FAB-250M-62, FAB-500M-54/62, RBC-500 and FAB-1500M54 to achieve higher target precision, reduced radar signature and increased gliding range. The upgrades will allow Russian bombers such as the Su-34 to operate away from the target zones of PATRIOT batteries.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow's forces have occupied substantial parts of the Luhansk region, including Rubizhne. Despite the unintentional nature of the recent incident, it further underscores the volatility and risks associated with the ongoing conflict.

All of Ukraine under air raid alert

Meanwhile, Russia has escalated its military offensive against Ukraine, launching a barrage of nearly 60 missiles and attack drones, marking the largest nationwide air strikes since the new year. The onslaught primarily targets energy infrastructure and other strategic locations, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to urgently appeal to western allies for increased military aid packages to bolster Kyiv's depleted air defense capabilities.

Ukrainian officials reported that air defenses successfully intercepted 18 of the 51 missiles fired overnight, along with eight attack drones. Nevertheless, critical civilian infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military installations suffered attacks. Ukrainian citizens were urged to seek refuge in bomb shelters as Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers roamed the skies, releasing ballistic and cruise missiles.

Several cities, including Kryviy Rih, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Khmelnytsky, experienced devastating strikes. A shopping mall in Kryviy Rih was largely destroyed, resulting in casualties and damage to private houses. At least four deaths were reported in Kryviy Rih, with additional casualties in other affected areas, including the eastern town of Pokrovsk.

The intensification of attacks on Ukrainian air bases is seen as Russia's attempt to counter Ukrainian fighter jets and bombers, especially those utilizing British and French cruise missiles. The attacks also coincide with concerns about potential pre-emptive actions to destroy runways and aviation infrastructure before Kyiv receives its first batch of F-16 fighter jets from western allies.

The current wave of attacks on energy infrastructure triggers memories of last winter when Russia targeted the energy grid, causing widespread power cuts and plunging millions into darkness.