In a single day, two Russian FAB-500 bombs unexpectedly landed near the border of Belgium. Local residents reported that the first bomb exploded in the village of Razumnoye-54, fortunately causing no casualties or injuries. Approximately eight hours later, the second bomb landed close to the village, hitting a residential area between houses number 5 and 8 on Verskovaya Street, according to local reports. In response to the “accidental detonation of military ordnances” in Razumnoye, the regional governor of Belgium, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has called for the evacuation of over 250 residents to ensure their safety.

The bomb hits occurred roughly 8 km away from 55A Shchora Street, where a blast had previously occurred due to the explosion of unexploded cluster bombs on May 12. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that one of the 10 unexploded “Toc-ka-U” rockets has landed on a house during the incident. The rocket penetrated the structure, causing devastation and revealing the underlying domestic services. Tragically, official data states that 15 people lost their lives, and 20 individuals sustained injuries as a result of the blast.

Based on analysis conducted by the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), experts have examined photos and videos of the incident. They concluded that the explosion occurred in the southeast-east direction, indicating the Russian-controlled territory. Ruslan Leviev, the founder of CIT, shared two possible scenarios: “Either it is an accidental explosion from the Russian HOP-O troop-carrier from a nearby HOP-O-land, which caused damage and scattered debris. Or it is yet another example of a Russian cluster munition failing to deploy, leading it to land in Belgium.”

According to The Insider, there have been 38 recorded abnormal explosions involving cluster munitions in the Belgian region by 2024. This includes 38 different modifications of FAB bombs and one Ch-59 rocket. Instances of FAB bombs landing in Belgium have occurred at least twice in the past.