Ukraine develops guided bombs, drones play key role in "enforcing oil embargo" on Russian refineries. Serhiy Zgurets’ column

Ukraine strikes Russian forces in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories

Ukraine continues to defend its frontlines while striking Russia's oil industry behind the lines, as the war of attrition has various dimensions. On February 19, the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia's Samara region, about 800 kilometers from Ukraine, was attacked. This distance no longer surprises us, which indicates that Ukraine has enough drones capable of reaching such distances to destroy Russian targets. This is now a systematic effort.

We know that this is not the first oil refinery to be targeted by Ukrainian drones. In fact, the Syzran refinery was attacked last year, and a structure responsible for oil processing was disabled. Russia restored this system, and now, for the second time, Ukrainian drones have struck this facility.

As a result of last year’s attacks, Russia’s oil production dropped by about 10%. This is a clear sign that Ukrainian drones are effectively working.

Another video was released yesterday by the General Staff, showing events from about three days ago. It details a strike by Ukraine’s Air Force on Russian positions in Chumatske, Zaporizhzhia region.

Using precision-guided munitions, the Air Force targeted a site where Russian troops had set up a launch pad for drones. While we cannot definitively identify the exact precision-guided munition used in this strike, we know that the Ukrainian Air Force is now employing a range of such munitions.

Primarily, we know that Ukrainian MiG-29s and now F-16s are using the GBU-39, a weapon with a glide range of up to 110 kilometers. Additionally, there is the American-made JDAM-ER, which, using satellite navigation, can precisely strike at distances of up to 70 kilometers.

We also know that France supplied Ukraine with munitions called Hammer, which are not just bombs but missile-bombs, as they have a motor that allows them to strike Russian targets from distances of up to 70 kilometers when launched from altitudes of 8-10 kilometers.

And of course, we know that last year Ukraine received about 200 Hammer munitions, if I'm not mistaken. The question then arises: is this a lot or a little? And here, we compare what the Russians have. Russia has aviation bombs, which are fitted with planning and guidance modules, and the intensity of their use has significantly increased.

We are now talking about instances where, in one week, the Russians have used up to 900 guided bombs, and in some months, up to 4,000 bombs in a single month. This indicates that this weapon is one of the elements where the Russian army seeks to assert its superiority, relying on technical solutions. And, of course, the question arises: what does Ukraine have?

Ukrainian guided bombs

It turns out that there are several Ukrainian companies that are actively working on developing their own aviation bombs with similar planning and guidance modules. At least several companies are actively involved in this. There has been progress, and good results are being achieved.

Oleh Vostrykh, a representative of the design bureau working on the development of Ukrainian guided bombs, shared the experience of this development.

"Indeed, it's unfortunate that only in the third year, by the end of the third year, we are just starting. Although we began this work almost at the end of August, we already have good results and are truly doing important work. Because since the times of the Soviet Union, we have had a lot of bombs stored in warehouses. Even though these warehouses were supposedly blown up, we remember that just before the war, there were attempts to clean up these warehouses, but the bombs remained, and there are still many of them. Both 250-kilogram and 500-kilogram bombs, and it is the 500-kilogram ones we are working with. This is an opportunity to slightly reduce the intensity of the Russian offensive on the front. Because when a 500-kilogram bomb falls in an area where military units are located, at the very least, a concussion is guaranteed immediately, but a lot of soldiers are also put out of action. The Russians today are even using 1,000-kilogram bombs, that is, one ton," he noted.

Oleh Vostrykh explained that the design bureau is developing wings that can easily be attached to the bomb, allowing it to fly up to 60 kilometers to strike the enemy.

"Currently, our design bureau, which includes programmers, electronics specialists, and mathematicians who calculate the wings' design and everything else, is working to launch these bombs as soon as possible and provide Ukrainian troops with them. The wings are very easy and quick to attach to the bomb. There are no problems with connecting them. It takes just five minutes to attach everything, and the bomb is ready. The aircraft takes off, gets closer to the front line, drops the bomb, then immediately turns around, and the enemy's air defense doesn't have time to detect the plane, although they try to intercept it. But when the plane is retreating, it has already engaged afterburners, so everything is fine. The bomb glides for nearly 60 kilometers, and we are working on making it fly even further, up to 80 kilometers. It hits the target, and the requirements set by the military are sufficient. It's a very narrow area that the bomb must hit," said the design bureau representative.

This is essentially the only design bureau working with 500-kilogram bombs.

"Yes, I am glad that today there is a design bureau or military companies working on this, because the need for it was immediate. We could have been using these bombs to stop the Russians from the start. There's no need to ask the Americans or the French. You make your own wings, send them out, and that's it, you have the guidance system, the counter-RADAR system, and so on, and it flies," said Oleh Vostrykh.

There is already a joint solution in place, with the military wanting this type of munition. The design bureau representative noted that the current demand from Ukrainian forces is very high, at least 100 such bombs per day. The first tests have already been conducted.

"We are currently at the testing stage, with the first trials underway. There have been positive results, but there are still things to improve and work on. After all, the Russians have been working on this for over 15 years, and we've only just started. However, the pace at which we are progressing shows that we will reach the result quickly and be able to provide our military with this necessary support. The only problem we face right now is that we are not a company that can afford to pull money from our pockets to buy all the spare parts, electronics, and other necessary components. We are talking about the planning module. We are already making it here, and we are not dependent on other countries," said Oleh Vostrykh.

Oleh Vostrykh also noted that the financial aspect is a challenge, as funds are needed for the trials.

"But there are still some details that we have to source from abroad, and for now, our manufacturers are working on them. We hope that they will be able to deliver the product we need. But at the moment, the main problem preventing us from moving quickly is money. It’s a simple, basic question: money. Just like everyone else is raising funds for drones and other things, we are also raising funds, looking for opportunities, because the cost of one such product is about 1.2 million hryvnias, which is 25,000 dollars. So, if we compare the cost of a 155mm shell, which we use, with the cost of this bomb, it’s about the same as 25 shells. And with this bomb, we don’t have to ask the Americans where we can shoot and where we can’t. Recently, they’ve been putting obstacles in our way, questioning whether we can shoot or not. This is our product, made by us, used by us, and we are the ones destroying our enemy with it," said the representative of the design bureau.

This project is extremely promising and necessary. The design bureau has a charity fund called the Charity Fund for Advanced Technologies, which collects money for completing the testing cycle.

"Right now, we are in the testing phase. We need to complete 10 tests, which will then undergo examination by the Ministry of Defense. They will confirm that it’s needed. They are saying now: 'We need it, but show us first, and if it meets the requirements, we’ll take it.' So, we need to complete those 10 tests. We have already done 3 tests with our own funds, and they have shown positive results. But we still need to complete a bit more to finish those 10, and then we’ll be able to move into the final stage. After that, state orders will follow, factories will start working, and we’ll create jobs and taxes. But to achieve this, we need to find 12 million hryvnias to speed up the process. We are already asking friends, businessmen, and bloggers for support, but we cannot raise funds on a large scale. Unfortunately, the government is not providing funding for such developments," he said.

Last week, I had an interview with an officer who mentioned that there will soon be a meeting at the President's Office dedicated to these developments. This is not the only company working on this, there are several others as well, all reporting significant progress but needing funding.

"Well, it seems to me that with the current uncertainty regarding Trump and the situation with America, we must constantly defend our country and do it quickly on our own. The weapons we can produce ourselves, we should make and use. But for that, we need a bit of money. We need to spend on what is necessary for our victory," he noted.

I might reveal a secret here - I was actually at the design bureau, saw the people working on it, and examined the prototype. This was just before the tests, and later Oleh Vostrykh told me that the tests were successful, and now they need to find a way to streamline the process.

"I hope that this meeting at the President's Office will push things forward, and maybe we'll get some funding. For now, they are allowing us to use some enterprises, saying, 'This enterprise will help you.' But since the enterprises don't see the finish line, they aren't fully committed. So, we're doing everything on our own, essentially from scratch. However, they are providing planes for testing, which is part of an official program, so at least the planes are free of charge for now. We're very grateful for that, to our country and government. But still, the military is asking: 'We need more than just drones.' FPV drones are good, we have thousands of them, but a small one with limited battery power can't compare to a 500-kilogram bomb falling on your head," said the representative of the design bureau.

It seems this is the only design bureau taking the route of using standard aviation bombs, adding only a planning module, without using rocket engines, unlike some developers who have opted for the American approach.

"It's very difficult. So, initially, it's hard. We decided that we would do this, work out the mechanism, and then, when production starts, we'll work with engines. But in the first stage, it's better to do something simple that works. Just like the Russians - take what they do, analyze how they work, what they do well, and they keep modifying it (the bomb - ed. note). Every time we see a modification, we track everything that falls on our heads in Kharkiv along the front line, we shoot it down. We have to buy those parts because they're being sold now too. Well, that's our country - everyone's trying to survive, so they're doing their best. But still, we're working together, and I think if the government listened, it would be great. If people also chipped in and helped make this happen faster, it would be a big step toward our victory," he believes.

There is a design bureau, there are enterprises that will produce components, and there is already an understanding of how this munition will be made.

"The mechanisms are already worked out, practically at most of the enterprises, and it’s been determined where the assembly will take place, where the platforms will be. We're also working on safety procedures because we understand that the enemy doesn't sleep; they are still monitoring. They will track our conversation today and continue to search. There are many traitors. But at the moment, the enterprises involved, we're now unifying all these aspects so it’s easy, quick, and simple to assemble, make these components, and then in the assembly shop, it's very easy to put together, insert everything, and it’s ready, brought to the airfield, where it’s then connected and everything is set. The design must be very simple and easy to use. And this is exactly what we are already working on with several enterprises, agreements are signed, and they are finishing up. The only thing left is the mechanism: everything must be outlined in drawings that need to be approved by the Ministry. It’s a bit of a complicated process, but we’re still doing it. We’re making prototypes to test, and at the same time, we are working on the documentation that must be filed for this product," Oleh Vostrykh explained.

Just a couple of days ago, there was information that one of the deputy defense ministers, General Klochkо, visited the Air Force Command. And there was a meeting regarding the enhancement of Ukraine's aviation's potential. The representative of the design bureau noted that this project is also related to this direction.

"Of course, we are also under the supervision of this deputy minister, so he is monitoring us. We report to him all the information about our process, what we are doing. And we hope that he will help in promoting not only our project but also all the others. Because life will show who is better, who is faster, who will make it simpler and easier, and make our enemy more vulnerable. So I think the cooperation is gradually improving. But so far, it is a bit difficult, but it's moving forward. Every day we collect something for our friends, something for the front line. And we want them (Russian forces - ed.) to be bombarded with those guided bombs so they all run away from our country. The pilots are very pleased because from what they saw before, they say, 'It's so easy.' It takes very little time, it's very simple to use, and it's very easy for it to fly. The only thing is, yes, there are details; the wing has to be, the math, how it should be so it flies further, to protect our pilot, so that he drops it at the right height. There are details that are now being fine-tuned," said the representative of the design bureau.

He also noted that for smaller munitions, the use of such a module is not being considered.

"To be honest, we specifically made it for the maximum [weight], as we have a sufficiently large quantity of it, so we decided that 500 kilograms is exactly the size that will fall and, when it falls, it will immediately stop the enemy. And it will still be easier for our guys to work on the front line," said the representative of the design bureau, Oleh Vostrykh.