In the early hours of Saturday, May 24, a mobile fire team from the Kyiv Police successfully shot down russian kamikaze drone targeting the capital, showcasing a remarkable feat of precision and quick response.
According to a video shared on the official Telegram channel of the National Police, officers used rifles and a flashlight to engage the UAV at one of the locations in Kyiv. Despite the simplicity of their tools and the intensity of the situation, the drone was successfully neutralized with a well-aimed shot.
Read more: Ukrainian F-16 Downs Five Drones in Single Sortie With AIM-9 Missiles During Massive russian Attack
"Target destroyed – a mobile fire team from the Kyiv Police eliminated one of the enemy UAVs that attacked the capital overnight," reads the report.
The footage highlights how the officers used a handheld flashlight to track the drone, coordinating their fire manually to bring it down. The incident underscores the determination and adaptability of Ukrainian law enforcement as they bolster Kyiv's layered air defense system.
As drone warfare becomes a nightly threat for Ukrainian cities, the role of mobile ground units like these, often lightly equipped but highly alert, remains critical in intercepting low-flying enemy UAVs before they can cause destruction.
This engagement occurred during a broader overnight assault across Ukraine. As of 8:30 am, Ukrainian forces had shot down six Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv, and neutralized 245 enemy drones, mostly Iranian-made Shahed UAVs, across the east, north, south, and center of the country.
Of 245 UAVs, 128 were shot down by kinetic air defense systems, while 117 were jammed or lost via electronic warfare, with no reported negative consequences.
This latest wave of attacks highlights both the intensity of russia's ongoing aerial campaign and Ukraine's increasingly effective multi-layered defense, from high-tech interceptors to mobile police units defending their city with nothing more than sharp eyes, flashlights, and small arms.
Read more: Ukraine's Deep Strike Campaign Continues: 1,200 Drones in Four Days Reported by russia
