Russian air defenses shot down five Ukrainian balloons overnight, according to the defense ministry in Moscow. The conflict between the two sides continues with long-range strikes playing a big role. This has become a war of attrition.
Russian and Ukrainian officials haven’t given any information about the mysterious balloons that the media in Moscow have reported on the battlefield. Ukraine’s military has been coming up with new ideas since the war started in February 2022. They have been using drones a lot to fight against the larger Russian forces.
Russian news says Ukrainian balloons have a GPS and carry explosives. They are said to be more difficult to find and could carry a larger load than regular small drones. We don’t know if the balloons are filled with helium, hot air, or something else.
The GPS module is probably used to control the release of explosives when the balloon flies over a specific area. This is done to cause fear on the ground and divert Russian air defense attention.
The Russian defense ministry said that three Ukrainian balloons and one drone were shot down over the Voronezh region, which is near the Moscow-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine. Two balloons were also stopped in the Belgorod region of Russia next to Ukraine.
In addition to the balloons, Russia says it stopped two Ukrainian missiles, 19 rockets from rocket launchers, and 16 drones during the night.
The defense ministry said three drones were destroyed in southern Russia’s Rostov region.
According to Russian news reports, balloons with mortar mines were shot down by Russian air defences earlier this week in the Lipetsk and Kursk regions.
Ukraine is having trouble in the war because its army is smaller and not as well-equipped as the other side. Western help for Kyiv’s military has decreased. More American help is stuck in Congress. Ukraine is getting ready for a big attack from Russia, possibly as soon as next month.
Ukraine has been targeting far-away places behind enemy lines, hitting Russian bases and infrastructure.
Kyiv officials are asking Western countries for more air defense systems because Russian missile and drone attacks are hitting cities and causing power outages.
According to officials, 18 people died and 78 were hurt in a Russian missile attack on downtown Chernihiv, Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President and Foreign Minister are asking European and G7 leaders for more equipment to defend their country’s airspace. They are mainly focused on getting air defense equipment.
Ukraine’s air force shot down 13 drones that Russia launched at Ukraine overnight.
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Russia claims to have shot down five military balloons from Ukraine in Kiev
