The Belarusian Air Force downed a Russian Shahed-type drone over the country's Homel Oblast overnight on Oct. 20, the monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported.
The incident marks just the third time a Belarusian aircraft has downed a drone that entered its airspace.
According to the monitoring group, three Russian attack drones entered Belarus' southern territory beginning around 12:30 a.m. local time.
Aircraft were scrambled to intercept the drone around 1 a.m. near the town of Yelsk in Homel Oblast, where residents reported hearing sounds of explosions.
Ukraine's Air Force reported downing 31 of the 51 attack drones that Russia launched overnight. The Air Force added that 13 drones were lost from Ukraine's radar overnight.
In early September, Belarus' military confirmed the downing of a drone over its territory on for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Minsk has never publicly raised objections to Moscow – its key ally – over the reported drone incidents.
According to Belarusian Hajun, there have been multiple cases of Russian Shahed-type drones flying off course to Belarus over the past few months as drone attacks intensify.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.
We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.
Our goal: reach 20,000 members to prove independent journalism can survive without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise. Will you help us do it?
(Updated: )
