A spokesperson for the Ukrainian military claimed during a televised appearance on Wednesday that Ukraine’s air defense systems detected and shot down at least half a dozen Russia-launched spy balloons over the Ukrainian capital.
The presence of the balloons in the sky earlier on Wednesday prompted Kyiv’s air raid sirens to go off – which usually happens when missiles are approaching- and, shortly after, several explosions could be heard across the capital.
Kyiv city officials claimed later that several targets air which defense systems detected in the air were shot down.
Believed to have been used by Moscow, the downed balloons – according to Ukrainian authorities – could have been carrying reconnaissance equipment and were allegedly launched to detect and exhaust Ukraine’s air defense forces.
Kyiv city officials also said in its announcement on their Telegram channel that after a study of the debris, a final determination of the intended use of the balloons – which appear to have been propelled by the wind- would be made.
Stressing that Russians will use all available methods of warfare to achieve their goals, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat accused Moscow of using balloons to exhaust anti-aircraft missiles.
According to Ignat, who emphasized the importance of seeing what they are and understanding them, authorities would carefully examine the debris, explaining that the balloons may be Moscow’s new tactic to preserve its stocks of reconnaissance drones like the Orlan-10, which are now being used more sparingly.
So far Moscow has avoided commenting on the reports and accusations by Kyiv of spy balloons deployment.
Previously on Tuesday, Moldova and Romania – both of which border Ukraine – reported that their skies were traversed by mysterious weather balloon-like objects that triggered brief panic and widespread travel disruption in Moldova after the authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace.
However, the two jets that Romania’s defense ministry deployed – that are under NATO command – returned to base without spotting anything.
