In a dramatic turn of events, the Ukrainian air force has joined the ongoing battle in Vovchansk, where hundreds of Russian troops find themselves surrounded in a chemical plant. With no escape route and nowhere to hide, the Russians now face precision glide bombs launched by the Ukrainian forces.

Over the weekend, the equivalent of several Russian battalions managed to capture the PJSC Volchansky plant in central Vovchansk, a strategic location just five miles south of Ukraine's northern border with Russia. Vovchansk was the initial target of Russia's northern offensive, which began on May 10, with the potential objective of capturing the city of Kharkiv further south.

However, the Russian forces, consisting of tens of thousands of soldiers, were unable to advance past Vovchansk. The brave Ukrainian brigades, including the esteemed 82nd Air Assault Brigade, swiftly responded to the Russian incursion. Equipped with urgently supplied munitions from the United States, the Ukrainians engaged the Russians in intense urban combat, eventually halting their advance by late May.

In a bold attempt to gain an advantage, Russian commanders ordered a large force to capture the PJSC Volchansky chemical plant. The plan was to use the plant and its fortified concrete buildings as a base to attempt a crossing over the Vovcha River, which acts as a natural defense for the Ukrainian defenders in southern Vovchansk.

However, a well-executed Ukrainian attack, thought to have taken place along Soborna street just west of the plant, effectively cut off the approximately 400 Russian troops seeking refuge inside the facility. Updated maps by Ukrainian analysis group Deep State indicate that the plant is still separated from the main body of Russian troops west of Soborna Street.

Now, the Ukrainian air force has joined the fray, launching precision glide bombs at the besieged Russian troops within the plant. Videos have surfaced depicting Ukrainian fighter jets, possibly Mikoyan MiG-29s or Sukhoi Su-27s, using American- or French-made glide bombs to target the main complex of the plant. These bombs, equipped with satellite guidance and significant explosive power, minimize the risk to the Ukrainian pilots while maximizing the impact on the target.

The use of glide bombs by the Ukrainian air force echoes the tactics employed by the Russian air force in previous conflicts with Ukraine. One Russian blogger likened the ongoing battle in Vovchansk to the intense sieges of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, where Russian glide bombs relentlessly pounded Ukrainian positions, eventually forcing them to retreat.

France has pledged to provide Ukraine with 50 Hammer glide bombs each month, while the United States has contributed thousands of similar bombs with advanced features such as pop-out wings and satellite guidance. Ukrainian fighters, armed with up to six glide bombs each, are capable of striking targets from distances of up to 25 miles away, and in some cases, up to 40 miles with the U.S.-made Small Diameter Bomb.

As the Ukrainian forces rain down glide bombs on the trapped Russian troops in the chemical plant, they are turning the tables on their adversaries. It has become standard practice for the Russian air force to bombard Ukrainian positions with glide bombs prior to a ground attack. Now, the Russians find themselves on the receiving end of the devastating and precise strikes.

The significance of this development cannot be understated. The Ukrainian forces have managed to effectively isolate and weaken a substantial portion of the Russian northern grouping, striking a blow against their adversary's offensive capabilities. As the battle rages on in Vovchansk, the outlook remains uncertain, but the relentless onslaught of precision glide bombs sets an ominous tone for the surrounded Russian troops.

Note: The information provided is based on the details shared by the user and may not reflect the current situation on the ground in Vovchansk.