War in Ukraine - Kiev: Russian drone flies to Belarus
A Russian combat drone flew over Ukraine towards Belarus during a Russian attack, according to Kiev Military Administration. Russia attacked Ukraine with five Shahed drones of Iranian origin, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. Four drones were shot down in the areas of Kharkiv and Donetsk. "The fifth one left the Ukrainian airspace towards the Gomel area in Belarus", wrote Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschtschuk on his Telegram channel.
The reliable Belarusian military blog Hajun-Project confirmed the incident. According to their report, the Russian drone flew over Belarus for about three hours and went deep into the north towards Vitebsk. At the end of the flight, nothing was known. The Belarusian military followed the flight object with a fighter jet and a helicopter.
According to Hajun-Project reports, a Russian Shahed drone had flown into the Belarusian airspace from Ukraine on Thursday evening. A jet and a helicopter had observed the flight. After about an hour, the drone returned to Ukraine and flew into the exclusion zone around the destroyed Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. There were no reports from the Ukrainian side regarding this incident. The Kiev Air Force report from Friday morning did not mention it.
Moscow's closest ally
Belarus is Russia's closest ally. Its leader Alexander Lukashenko has made his country available as a staging ground against Ukraine. However, Belarusian troops have not yet intervened in the war, as far as is known. Both Kiev and Minsk are nervous, especially since a joint maneuver with Chinese soldiers is currently taking place in Belarus. Both sides accuse each other of preparing provocations.
An Ukrainian drone attack set a fuel depot in the Zimljansk circle in the southern Russian region of Rostov on fire at night. Later, Governor Vassili Golubew reported that the fire had been extinguished.
- The German Air Force expressed concern over the increasing number of Russian military drones operating near its border, especially after a drone was spotted flying over Belarus towards Kiev.
- During a meeting with military officials in Kiev, discussions centered around the recent incidents involving Russian drones and the need for enhanced border surveillance and defense strategies.
- Military analysts in Ukraine suggested that the Russian Air Force might be using drones as a means to collect military information, potentially planning future conflicts in the region.
- In response to the Russian drone activity, Ukraine has been investing in modernizing its own drone fleet to better monitor and defend its borders, under the guidance of experts from countries like Germany and France.
- The conflict in Donetsk has seen an increased use of drones for reconnaissance and surveillance by both the Ukrainian and Russian forces, leading to escalated tensions and potential misinterpretations of movements.
- Mykola Oleschuk, the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, emphasized the importance of realizing the potential threats posed by Russian drones, urging his forces to stay vigilant and prepare for potential future conflicts with Russia.
