A Russian airstrike on a shopping mall in Dobropillia, eastern Ukraine, on Thursday killed at least four people and wounded 27, Donetsk regional authorities said.
The attack used a 500kg FAB-type aerial bomb, making it one of the largest and most daring Moscow has launched in its all-out war on Ukraine.
According to the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, 54 business premises, 304 apartment units and eight vehicles were also destroyed in the attack, followed by a huge fire caused by a powerful explosion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “stupid terrorism” that had no military logic, but was simply aimed at killing as many civilians as possible.
Dobropillia, a small town about 15 kilometres from the frontline of the fighting, is the latest target of Russia advancing from the southeast.
According to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the use of FAB bombs that have been modified into glide bombs has caused 360 deaths and 1,861 injuries among civilians throughout 2024.
FAB bombs, which come in various versions weighing 250kg, 500kg and 1,000kg, are now among the main weapons of the Russian army. These weapons also pose a major challenge to the Ukrainian air defense system because they are difficult to detect and intercept.
Security experts also warn that the widespread use of glide bombs will not only destroy military targets, but also have the potential to destroy civilian infrastructure located near the front lines.
