Ukraine says its aerial defence units detected half a dozen balloons, allegedly launched by Russia, over the capital Kyiv. Most of them were shot down, according to officials. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said that Russia uses balloons to exhaust Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles. "The Russians will use all available methods of warfare to achieve their goals," he tells AFP. "Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that these devices can conduct some kind of surveillance, so it is important to see what they are and understand them." SOUNDBITES