Ukrainian air defense shoots down Russian balloons flying over Kyiv.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Objects seen floating in the sky over the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital were Russian military balloons, air defense spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said during an interview. The military said that a total of six balloons were detected, most of which were shot down. Ihnat characterized the objects as primitive balloons carrying pieces of metal, which were picked up by radar and triggered an air-raid alert in the Kyiv region. The balloons were designed to fool air defenses and possibly mask reconnaissance drones that might be flying nearby, Ihnat said.