Russian drones, glide bombs stretch Ukraine front, escalate tensions

Maryna and Volodymyr endure relentless Russian drone and glide bomb attacks in war-torn Kostyantynivka, Ukraine.

Living in the gutted-out eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, Maryna has learned to recognise the sound of the devastating Russian glide bombs that have pounded her city for months.

Equipped with wings to help them glide over dozens of kilometres, the bombs are part of an arsenal developed by Russia to let it hit deeper into Ukrainian territory and stretch the front line.

Ms. Maryna recalled one of the recent strikes.

“Six people didn’t get back up. There was blood everywhere,” she said.

Overhead, the threat of a fresh attack is constant.

Kostyantynivka used to be relatively sheltered, lying a dozen kilometres (7 miles) from the front line. But Russian forces are now pounding the city with the cheaply made bombs.

Usually made from Soviet stocks and modernised with satellite control systems, each can carry up to a tonne of explosives.