Out-of-Control Ukrainian Drone Shot Down Over Kyiv

Ukrainians in Kyiv cheered as air-defense missiles downed a military drone over the center of the city on Thursday evening, May 4, though it was later revealed to have been a Turkish-made Ukrainian drone over which the air force had lost control.

In a statement issued just before 11 pm, the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial device (UAV) had been on a scheduled flight at 8 pm, but veered off out of control over the capital region, likely due to a technical malfunction.

To avoid “undesirable consequences”, the decision was made to shoot down the drone, the Air Force Command said.

This footage, shot by Xavier Wahid overlooking St. Michael’s Square, shows the moment the drone was intercepted by a ground-to-air missile and fell to the ground in flames.

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said the drone flew “right over” her house and “a metro station where people were sheltering” before being shot down over a shopping mall in the city.

According to local authorities, falling debris caused a fire in a four-story building that was contained by fire crews soon after.

The incident happened a day after Russia accused Ukraine of using drones to attack the Kremlin. Russia did not provide evidence for the claim, and Ukraine denied any involvement in the alleged attack. Credit: Xavier Wahid via Storyful

Video transcript

- Get it, boys. Get it, boys. Beautiful.

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

Beautiful.

Get it, boys. Get it, boys. Beautiful.

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

Beautiful.

Get it, boys. Get it, boys. Beautiful.

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

Beautiful.

Get it, boys. Get it, boys. Beautiful.

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

Beautiful.

Get it, boys. Get it boys. Beautiful.

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

Beautiful.