Bizarre video shot by residents in Russia’s Rostov Oblast region has gone viral. The videos shows a fast moving orb light, which is eventually destroyed by Russian forces.
Such was the panic amongst residents who saw the event unfold, and the subsequent video, the region’s Governor, Vasily Golubev was promoted to call for calm on Telegram.
Referring to the object as a UFO, Golubev said “I urge everyone to remain calm. To ensure security, all forces and means are involved. The sky is covered with anti-aircraft defenses.”
The pictures have prompted many to speculate about extraterrestrial activity. Eastern Europe has long been a hot bed for UFO sightings.
However, military experts say it’s likely the unidentified object was either an advanced military drone or a hypersonic missile.
Supply of advanced drones called for by U.S. Senators just months ago
If the vision did capture an advanced drone, it would be a major turning point in U.S. policy relating to the conflict in Ukraine.
In November, a bipartisan group of 16 U.S. Senators called on the U.S. Defence Secretary to supply Ukraine with tactical advanced drones in order to stop the advance of Russian forces.
“The MQ-1C, along with already provided long-range fires capabilities, provides Ukraine additional lethality needed to eject Russian forces and regain occupied territory,” the Senators wrote in a letter which was published by the Wall Street Journal.
But the Biden administration has since publicly said it would not supply Ukraine with advanced drones because of concerns they may inadvertently be obtained by Russian forces.
“While the official line is ‘no advanced drones to Ukraine’, in all likelihood they have been supplied covertly. It’s something the Pentagon would not want to advertise,” one military expert told Asia Markets.
Drone attacks intensify
Drone attacks initiated by both sides of the Russia Ukraine conflict have continued to intensify in recent days.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told state media on Saturday four Ukrainian drones, five Uragan and HIMARS rockets and one anti-radiation rocket had been shot down in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions in just a 24 hour period.
Earlier on Saturday, the Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev said on his Telegram channel that Russia had shot down a drone over the waters of Sevastopol.
“Some 15 minutes ago, air defenses shot down a UAV over the waters of the Northern mole. Even a holy celebration of Christmas cannot stop these inhuman beings from attacking out hero city,” he wrote.
Related: Putin’s Christmas message: “We are ready to negotiate”