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Six Russian balloons overran the Ukrainian capital, some of which were shot down by the Kiev air defense system. Photo/REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
KIEV – Six balloons Russia had invaded the Capital’s airspace Ukraine , Kiev, and most of them have been shot down by air defense systems. This was conveyed by the military administration of Kiev, Thursday (16/2/2023).
The balloons likely carried corner reflectors and reconnaissance equipment, but Ukrainian officials did not specify when they flew over the capital, despite an air warning being issued over Kiev on Wednesday.
“According to the information that is now being clarified, this is a balloon moving in the air under the impulse of the wind,” the military administration of Kiev wrote on Telegram.
“The purpose of the balloon launch may be to detect and weaken our air defenses,” the administration continued, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
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Shortly before the announcement, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said Russia, which invaded Ukraine since February last year, could use the balloons in a new attempt to maintain its stockpile of reconnaissance drones.
“Reconnaissance drones like the Orlan-10 are being used less frequently (by the Russians), and they’re thinking, ‘Why don’t we use these balloons?’ So they used it,” Ihnat told Ukrainian television.
He later confirmed that air raid sirens wailed over the capital on Wednesday due to balloons flying overhead.
Russia has yet to comment on reports of its six balloons invading Kyiv airspace.
According to a report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in addition to a shortage of drones, Russia has lost about half of its battle tanks since its invasion of Ukraine a year ago.
