«Shahed» drone flies over Kyiv without air raid alert, sparks security concerns
A Russian «Shahed» drone flew over Kyiv on the afternoon of 26 January, although no air raid alert was issued.
«Shahed» / © Associated Press
Experts suggest that the drone’s flight over central Kyiv without triggering an alert may reflect its low altitude of under 100 meters rather than a malfunction in air defenses. The more serious concern is that the UAV reached the city undetected, highlighting the strategic intelligence capabilities of Russia.
Mykola Melnyk, ex-commander of a mechanized M2 Bradley company, spoke about the incident on Den.LIVE.
The air raid warning was issued several minutes afterward.
Asked if the flight suggested a failure in air defenses, Melnyk said the drone probably reached Kyiv without early detection due to its low altitude.
Melnyk also emphasized that the drone’s ability to reach Kyiv without being detected is a serious concern. According to him, it indicates that Russia has information on the positioning of Ukraine’s air defense and radar units.
«If this occurred, it is very bad news for us, ” the Ukrainian Armed Forces veteran said.