ASTRA: Russian FAB bombs regularly fall inside Russia, occupied Ukraine

At least 24 incidents involving Russian aerial bombs falling on Russian territory and occupied parts of Ukraine have been recorded since the beginning of 2026, according to the independent Russian outlet ASTRA.

Citing sources in Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the publication reported that on March 15 a Russian FAB-500 aerial bomb malfunctioned and fell in the village of Luganskoye near Debaltseve in occupied Donetsk Oblast. The bomb landed in the vegetable garden of a private home on Artema Street, narrowly missing a residential building. No casualties were reported.

ASTRA also reported two additional incidents in Russia’s Belgorod region, near the villages of Nechaevo and Sevryukovo. In both cases, the munitions were reportedly transported to a testing range and destroyed without causing injuries or damage.

According to ASTRA’s estimates, at least 143 aerial bombs fell on Russian and occupied territories during 2025, while at least 165 such incidents were recorded in 2024.

The publication previously reported that the Russian military has been equipping Soviet-era FAB bombs with UMPK guidance modules, allowing them to be launched from Russian territory using satellite navigation systems. However, due to technical flaws in the system, some bombs reportedly fail to reach their intended targets and instead fall in Russian-controlled areas.

In January 2026, Fighterbomber, a Telegram channel considered close to the Russian Aerospace Forces, also acknowledged that Russian aerial bombs regularly fall within the Belgorod region.

By Sabina Mammadli