Six Russian balloons were found over Kiev. Most of them were shot down by anti-aircraft defenses.
This was announced by the Kiev administration on Wednesday.
According to the report, the balloons could carry reflectors and reconnaissance equipment. Authorities did not say exactly when the balloons flew over Kiev, although an aerial warning was issued in the capital on Wednesday.
“According to the information that is being clarified now, these were balloons that moved through the air under the influence of the wind,” the administration said in a Telegram. “The purpose of the balloon launch was perhaps to detect and exhaust our air defenses.”
Shortly before the announcement, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said Russia may use balloons in an effort to maintain its stockpile of reconnaissance drones.
“Reconnaissance drones like Orlan-10 are used less now (by Russia), and they thought, ‘Why don’t we use these bullets?’ So they use them,” Ignat told TV Ukrainian.
He later confirmed that air raid sirens sounded in Kiev on Wednesday due to balloon overflights.
