Ukraine's air force said it shot down a drone over Kiev on Thursday after losing control of it, after several explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital.
Explosions sounded for 15 to 20 minutes in Kiev, which has seen a series of attacks over the past two days.
On Thursday evening, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement: "At around 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT), a Bayraktar TB2 drone spiraled out of control during a routine sortie over Kiev. The target was destroyed."
The statement said the air force believed a technical glitch likely caused the loss of control of the drone.
Ukrainian accounts broadcast videos they said showed Bayraktar fighter jet shot down by "friendly fire" over the capital Kiev.
#Ukraine: A Ukrainian Bayraktar TB2 UCAV was shot down by a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile over Kyiv in an example of friendly fire. pic.twitter.com/r9m11PfXND
🇺🇦 — Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 4, 2023
AFP journalists said they saw a drone being shot down by air defences, while the Kiev city military administration reported that "air defence has been activated". Journalists saw a cloud of black smoke in the air.
According to Ukrainian Defense Officials, the "Russian Surveillance Drone" that caused Air Raid Sirens in the Capital of Kyiv and was later Shot Down by Air Defense Units near the Presidential Palace was actually a Ukrainian Air Force TB-2 which was Misidentified. pic.twitter.com/JFc4sBZz3k
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 4, 2023
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported "explosions and fires in the Solomyansky district of the capital" and warned of possible drone wreckage.
Kiev has seen a wave of attacks since Wednesday evening after the Russian presidency announced the downing of two Ukrainian drones aimed at attacking the Kremlin, the residence of President Vladimir Putin, describing it as a planned terrorist act and an attempt to assassinate the head of state, and vowed to retaliate.