Camilla Jessen
A Ukrainian airstrike hit Russian positions at the Tyotka sugar refinery using a French-made bomb.
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A Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 carried out a precision strike on Russian positions at the Tyotka sugar refinery in Tyotkino, located in Russia’s Kursk region.
The Telegram channel Sunflower published video footage of the attack, which shows a guided bomb piercing the factory roof and detonating inside, destroying part of the building.
The strike reportedly used a French AASM (HAMMER) guided bomb — a high-precision weapon similar to the American JDAM.
According to Sunflower, the targeted structure was being used to store Russian military equipment and drones.
Striking a Formerly Disputed Industrial Site
The sugar factory hit in the strike had previously made headlines in 2023 after its owners sued the Russian Ministry of Defense, demanding 75 million rubles in compensation for damages caused during its occupation by Russian forces.
The lawsuit was rejected by a Russian court.
The site now appears to be part of a growing list of industrial zones repurposed for military use near the border with Ukraine — and increasingly, a target for Ukrainian strikes.
This isn’t the first time Ukrainian forces have struck targets near Tyotkino.
In late March, another airstrike hit a checkpoint on the grounds of the neighboring enterprise Tyotkinozerno. That strike reportedly targeted Russian surveillance and communications equipment, including the “Murom” long-range visual monitoring system.
A small GBU-39 precision-guided bomb was believed to have been used in that attack.
France’s AASM
The AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), or HAMMER bomb, is a French-developed kit that turns regular free-fall bombs into precision-guided munitions. Much like the American JDAM, the AASM includes a front guidance section and a rear rocket booster for added range.
There are two main variants:
- Hammer-250, based on the 227 kg Mk. 82 bomb
- Hammer-1000, using the 908 kg Mk. 84 bomb
The guidance system can be adapted with GPS, thermal imaging, or laser guidance depending on the mission requirements.