Ukraine shoots down Russian balloons
Sirens went off in Kyiv and aerial defense fired on half a dozen balloons
It’s Ukraine’s turn to be menaced by spy balloons from Russia as half a dozen were spotted over the capital Kyiv.
The response, however, was much quicker than how the United States dispatched a Chinese balloon last 4 February, with the Ukraine military’s aerial defense shooting down most of the six balloons believed to carry reconnaisance equipment on Wednesday.
“Most of the probes have been shot down,” the city administration said in a statement, adding authorities would carefully examine the debris, Agence France-Presse reports.
Sirens went go off in Kyiv when the balloons were detected.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat said that Russia uses balloons to exhaust Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces were holding back Russia’s advances near the east town of Bakhmut, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a news conference with visiting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday.
Bakhmut has been at the center of months of heavy fighting in Russia’s nearly yearlong offensive in Ukraine, with both sides suffering heavy losses.
The governor of the eastern region of Lugansk, which is largely under Russian control, reported an “escalation” near the settlements of Kreminna and Bilogorivka.
Sergiy Gaidai said Russian troops were attacking in “waves” with air support.
In the eastern town of Pokrovsk, strikes hit a residential building on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring 12 others, emergency services said.
Munitions shortage
Switzerland has turned down Germany’s request to supply munitions for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft guns being used by Ukraine to repel Russia’s invasion.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Wednesday criticized Geneva which said it did not want to compromise its neutrality.
Germany’s own production of munitions is limited and it has asked Switzerland for authorization to send Ukraine Swiss-made ammunition.
German manufacturer Rheinmetall, which makes the Gepard, has said it will open a new domestic facility to make equipment for the anti-aircraft system, with production due to start in June.
Rheinmetall confirmed on Wednesday that it has been contracted to supply 300,000 rounds of 35mm ammunition for the Gepard.
Ukrainian forces were holding back Russia’s advances near the east town of Bakhmut.