“5 Ukrainian military balloons were downed.”

The defense ministry in Moscow announced on Thursday that Russian air defenses shot down what officials said were five Ukrainian balloons throughout the course of the night. The battle has mostly devolved into an attrition war.

Details of the covert balloons, which Moscow authorities and media have reported on the battlefield in recent weeks, have not been released by either Russian or Ukrainian officials. Since the conflict started in February 2022, Ukraine’s military has been at the forefront of innovation, most notably by adapting drones for widespread use against the more powerful Kremlin troops.

The Ukrainian balloons are reportedly carrying explosives and have a GPS module installed, according to Russian news sources. They may be more difficult to find and have a larger payload than the more typical tiny drones. It’s unclear whether these balloons are made of heated air, helium, or some other substance.

Two suspected Russian agents are detained by Germany
Prosecutors announced on Thursday that two German-Russian individuals had been detained in Germany on suspicion of spying; one of them had allegedly agreed to carry out assaults on possible targets, such as US military installations, with the intention of undermining help to Ukraine.

According to German privacy regulations, the two were only named as Dieter S and Alexander J. They were taken into custody on Wednesday in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth, according to federal prosecutors. Allegedly, Dieter had been in October discussions with someone connected to Russian intelligence about potential acts of sabotage in Germany.