Russia Has Mistakenly Bombed Belgorod, Its Own City, 8 Times In Past 11 Days

The errant bombings are believed to be primarily due to malfunctioning guidance systems in Russian made weapons. Some of that is the result of sanctions which forces Russia to use substandard parts, and some is caused by sloppy manufacturing. JL

Tania Taradiuk reports in the Kyiv Independent:

Russia's Belgorod oblast, which borders Ukraine, said that Russian Forces dropped eight bombs in the area over the course of 11 days, "due to the technical defects of Russian-made weapons," according to an intercepted call. 12 people were wounded, two minibuses, eight cars, and an entire parking lot were damaged. Russia dropped glide bombs on its own territory 38 times between April 2023 and April 2024 due to malfunctioning guidance systems in a document compiled by the Belgorod city emergency department.

Belgorod Oblast has said that Russian Forces dropped eight bombs in the area over the course of 11 days, according to an intercepted call released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on Nov. 17.

Belgorod oblast borders Ukraine and often comes under attack as it is one of the regions from which Russian forces launch missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities.

"In 11 days, Russian pilots dropped eight bombs — eight bombs on the territory of the Belgorod Oblast. Can you imagine?" the woman said in a call released by HUR on Nov. 17.

She added that the day before the call, 12 people were wounded, and two minibuses, eight cars, and an entire parking lot were damaged.

"Russian aviation continues to strike the civilian population of Ukraine with aerial bombs equipped with guidance and correction modules. Due to the technical defects of Russian-made weapons, some of the bombs do not reach their target and fall on the heads of Russians living in the border area," HUR said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the contacts of the call but there have been multiple documented occasions when Russian forces have accidentally bombed Belgorod Oblast. 

A document obtained by the Washington Post (WP) suggested Russia dropped glide bombs on its own territory nearly 40 times in one year, most likely due to malfunctioning guidance systems, the outlet reported on July 1. Believed to have been compiled by Belgorod city emergency department, the document records 38 incidents in the year from April 2023 to April 2024.