Izium, a Kharkiv-region city once occupied in 2022, was hit again by glide bombs that razed private homes, as residents described a front-line city being steadily destroyed.
8,300 glide bombs a month are now battering Ukraine, with roads covered by drone nets, bridges destroyed and schools, garages and media facilities damaged across the southeast.
Ukraine is pressing allies for practical air-defense help—new F-16s, longer-range air-to-air weapons and airborne early-warning aircraft—arguing older donations and current timelines are inadequate.
A planned delivery of 16 new Gripens in 2029-30 is far too late, the report argues, warning Izium could face a second occupation if Europe does not move immediately.
With Russia dropping thousands of glide bombs monthly, can a handful of delayed Western F-16s truly prevent the erasure of eastern Ukrainian cities?
How long can Ukraine’s domestic drone strikes offset the overwhelming destruction caused by relentless Russian aerial bombardment of civilian infrastructure?
As Izium residents cling to shattered homes, will promised early warning systems arrive before another devastating occupation becomes inevitable?