Russia uses decoy surveillance balloons as war tactic in Ukraine, UK intelligence warns

February 19 (United Press International) — Russian Army May Be Using Decoy Surveillance Balloons as a War Tactic Ukrainethe UK Ministry of Defense warned on Sunday.

British military intelligence officials say in a statement On Wednesday, Ukrainian troops spotted several balloons with radar reflectors dangling over Kiev.

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Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, wednesday says Six of these balloons were shot down, each with metal triangles dangling from below to make them look like an incoming missile.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Air Force also reported seeing balloons over eastern Dnepropetrovsk.

“These balloons are likely to be of Russian manufacture,” the MoD said.

“They may represent a new Russian tactic to obtain information about Ukrainian air defenses and force the Ukrainians to deplete valuable stockpiles of surface-to-air missiles and munitions.”

The Ministry of Defense said a “balloon-shaped” object was also seen flying over the Moldovan nation, prompting neighboring Ukraine to close its airspace for hours.

The MoD said: “It is likely that this was a Russian balloon that floated in from Ukrainian airspace.”

The latest intelligence was released over the Atlantic coast after the US recently shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over the country.

The U.S. has since shot down three more unidentified objects flying over North America — off the coast of Alaska, over Canada and over Lake Huron near the Canadian border.

presidential administration joe biden Zeng said the three objects were most likely not Chinese spy balloons and belonged to private companies and research institutions.