Air raid alert in Kyiv region due to Russia's launch of balloons with reflectors 

The spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, Yuriy Ihnat, said on the United News national telethon that the air raid alert in Kyiv region on the afternoon of February 15 was due to the launch of balloons with angular reflectors by Russia, which it uses to distract and exhaust Ukrainian air defense forces.

Earlier, Yuriy Ihnat commented on the appearance of these devices in Ukrainian airspace, saying "These balloons can be of different sizes, but sufficient to pick up an angular reflector. The enemy uses such flying objects for reconnaissance or to confuse air defense systems."

Earlier, the Kyiv Regional Military Administration informed about the air defense operation.

"Air targets were detected in the sky of the Kyiv region. Air defense is operating," the press service said. 

Thus, residents of the region were urged to remain calm and stay in shelters.

At 1:28 p.m., an air raid alert was announced in the Kyiv region.

• On February 15, the Russian army hit a residential building in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region: at least 12 people were reported injured, and 2 more were trapped under the rubble.