Ukraine is urgently searching for ways to counter Russia’s upgraded aerial bombs, which are now equipped with jet propulsion systems. These modified munitions can strike targets up to 200 kilometers away, allowing Russia to hit rear areas deep inside Ukrainian territory. Analysts warn that the bombs could soon reach as far as Kiev.

According to Voennaya Khronika, Ukraine’s air defense systems remain largely ineffective against this new class of weapon. The outlet reported that the only realistic way to neutralize the threat would be to destroy the aircraft launching the bombs, but doing so poses major challenges.

The publication noted that the appearance of these enhanced bombs has increased the vulnerability of Ukraine’s rear positions. Previously, missiles were seen as the primary danger-though their stockpiles were limited. Now, the threat has expanded, as Russia possesses a far greater number of large aerial bombs.

Experts cited by Voennaya Khronika say that since Ukrainian air defenses cannot reliably intercept the bombs themselves, the focus should shift to the Su-34 bombers that deploy them. However, Ukrainian air defense systems often lack the range to reach those aircraft. Moving launchers closer to the front lines, meanwhile, would expose them to Russian strikes and risk the loss of scarce equipment.

Hopes in Kiev now rest on the arrival of American F-16 fighter jets, expected to intercept Russian bombers. Yet many of the aircraft supplied by European partners reportedly lack long-range air-to-air missiles, preventing them from engaging targets from a safe distance.

As Voennaya Khronika observed, Ukrainian authorities have once again appealed to Western allies for long-range air-launched missiles. Without them, the report warns, Ukraine’s rear areas could remain exposed to Russian aerial bomb attacks.