Russian forces have used a newly developed precision-guided bomb in a strike on Ukraine for the first time, injuring dozens in the city of Kharkiv. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, two UMPB-5 aerial munitions were launched from a Su-34 bomber at approximately 11:00 a.m. on July 24, hitting infrastructure in the Shevchenkivskyi and Kholodnohirskyi districts.
The bombs were reportedly released from an estimated distance of over 60 miles near the village of Stroitel in Russia’s Belgorod region, igniting fires.
⚠️ The Russian Federation used a new munition for the first time on Kharkiv – UMPB-5.
The range of such bombs is 100 km.
— LoisAceLane 🇺🇦🎗️ ✙ (@LoisAceLane) July 24, 2025
A total of 41 people were injured in the attack, including six children, local authorities confirmed. Among the wounded were a 10-year-old girl, a 28-day-old infant, a pregnant woman, and two 17-year-olds who suffered blast injuries. All victims are receiving medical treatment.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that people were present on the streets at the time of the attack. No fatalities were reported.
The UMPB-5 is a newly modified glide bomb equipped with a 550-pound high-explosive warhead, similar in weight to previous munitions but with a reinforced casing. “The warhead of the UMPB-5 weighs 250 kilograms, the same as a high-explosive aircraft bomb,”a spokesperson for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office said. “At the same time, it is made of thicker metal than in the UMPB D-30, which is why civilians were more seriously injured.”
Spartak Borysenko, a representative of the prosecutor’s office, said the strike confirms Russia’s continued use of Kharkiv as a test site for new air-launched munitions. “Russia is using Kharkiv as a testing ground. Today it’s the UMPB-5, before it was the D-30… These modified bombs cause greater destruction and lead to more civilian injuries,” Borysenko stated according to a report by Euromaiden Press.
The blast wave from the attack caused significant structural damage. According to official assessments, 20 residential buildings were hit, including 17 apartment blocks. More than 600 windows were shattered, and the blast created a large crater in the road. Seven cars were destroyed by fire, while 18 others were damaged. An industrial facility was also set ablaze, resulting in a large fire, Russian media claimed the industrial facility was a drone factory.
🇷🇺 Russia used its new UMPB-5 guided bomb for the first time in a strike on Kharkiv.
Dropped from a Su-34 over Belgorod, the 250kg bomb hit an industrial site near the Rogatinsky residential complex. 33 civilians injured—including children and a pregnant woman. #UkraineWar… pic.twitter.com/NS6IqerOS8
— EASTFRONT (@eastfront1) July 24, 2025
This strike comes amid renewed geopolitical pressure on Moscow. On July 23, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum giving Russia 50 days to end the war or face new sanctions.
Ukrainian officials said the use of the UMPB-5 represents a dangerous escalation. It is the first confirmed use of the weapon in combat and signals Russia’s continued investment in long-range precision munitions capable of being launched from beyond Ukrainian air defense range.
