Russia launches thousands of glide bombs monthly, Ukraine needs Gripens with Meteor missiles — Zelenskyy

Abdullateef Fowewe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russian forces are launching thousands of aerial glide bombs each month from fighter jets, striking border areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy and other regions from distances exceeding 100 kilometres.

Writing on X after a joint press conference with Sweden’s prime minister, Zelenskyy said, “Russia’s aerial bombs remain a major challenge for us. Within a month, we are talking about thousands, not even hundreds.

“Their jets launch glide bombs both from Russian territory and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory at ranges exceeding 100 kilometres. We have never had enough air defence assets to intercept such bombs.”

Zelenskyy said the strikes have inflicted severe damage on border communities.

“Using these bombs, the Russians wreak destruction across our border communities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Kharkiv, Sumy, and others. Many cities and villages have been razed to the ground by aerial bombs,” he wrote.

He urged faster delivery of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters armed with MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, arguing they would allow Ukraine to push Russian jets farther from the front.

“Therefore, Gripens with matching weaponry – particularly Meteor missiles that destroy targets at distances exceeding 200 kilometres – will help us push Russian jets away so that they can’t use glide bombs en masse anymore,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly appealed to partners for additional fighter aircraft and long-range missile systems to blunt Russian air operations.

Sweden has been among the countries providing military support to Ukraine; negotiations over the transfer of Gripens, along with the associated weapons and training, have continued amid wider Western deliberations on supplying more advanced combat aircraft.