Ukraine shot down six Russian balloons over Kiev
The Ukrainian army said it shot down 6 Russian balloons suspected of carrying corner reflectors over Kiev. Air raid sirens began to be heard in Kiev.
The Ukrainian military said on Wednesday it had shot down six Russian balloons seen over Kiev. It is suspected that the balloons may be carrying corner reflectors and reconnaissance equipment.
It was not clear whether the balloons flew over the capital, although air alerts were sounded in Kiev on Wednesday.
"According to information that is now being clarified, these were balloons that move in the air under the propulsion of wind," the military administration wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
"The purpose of launching the balloons was possibly to detect and exhaust our air defences."
Shortly before the announcement, Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February last year, could be using balloons in a new drive to preserve its stocks of reconnaissance drones.
"Reconnaissance drones like the Orlan-10 are now being used more sparingly (by Russia), and they thought 'Why don't we use these balloons?' So they are using them," Ihnat told Ukrainian television.
Balloons were the reason for the air raid sirens that sounded in the capital Kiev on Wednesday.
(INDIA TODAY)
