The “Battle of Bakhmut” + Russia’s GLONASS-Guided Glide Bombs

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for April 3, 2023:

-Russian forces continue encirclement of Bakhmut and Avdeevka;

– Western media continues to measure Russia’s strategy of attrition by territorial gains;

– Over the past month there has been an uptick in Russian precision airstrikes along the line of contact;

– Reports indicate that one of the munitions used is the GLONASS-guided UPAB-1500B glide bomb with a range of 40-50km;

– The UPAB-1500B is released out of range of most of Ukraine’s mobile force protection air defense systems, most of Ukraine’s S-300s are either destroyed or deployed far behind the line of contact opening an opportunity for the glide bomb’s use;

– Further degradation of Ukraine’s air defenses will lead to Russian military aviation becoming a more decisive factor;

References:

Guardian – Surrounded and outgunned, Ukraine’s tank crews prepare for battle of Bakhmut (April 2, 2023):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202…

TASS – Russian troops persistently grinding down enemy forces in Ukraine operation — commander (October 2022):
https://tass.com/defense/1524503

Kyiv Independent – Media: Public data suggests over 16,000 Russian soldiers have been killed during first year of all-out war (March 2023):
https://kyivindependent.com/media-pub…

Kyiv Independent – Defense Express: Russia uses new 1.5-ton gliding bombs on Ukraine for first time (March 5, 2023):
https://kyivindependent.com/defense-e…

Army Recognition – Russia uses in Ukraine new UPAB-1500B GPS-guided gliding bomb to destroy highly protected targets (March 10, 2023):
https://www.armyrecognition.com/ukrai…

Ukrainska Pravda – Russians launch airstrike on Avdiivka, destroying kindergarten and damaging house (March 29, 2023):
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/20…

Amnesty International – Ukraine: Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians (August 2022):
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/new…

Ukrainska Pravda – Russians strike Avdiivka, damage administrative building (April 1, 2023):
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/20…

The Drive – Su-57 Felon Fighters Are Flying Ukraine Combat Missions: U.K. Intel (January 2023):
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone…