Russia's air defences have claimed to have shot down a mystery UFO near the Sea of Azov after they saw a 'small-size object in the shape of a ball' in the sky.
Regional governor of Rostov Oblast, Vasily Golubev, said a "small-size object in the shape of a ball", much like a UFO, had been destroyed by anti-aircraft missiles on Tuesday, January 3.
The regional governor wrote on Telegram that the 'object' had been spotted over the village of Sultan Sala in the region's Myasnikovsky district, at an altitude of around one and a half miles.
The unidentified object was immediately targeted by local air defences.
A local news outlet called Pivyet Rostov stated that "a UFO in the form of a ball was shot down in the sky".
Explaining that a decision was made "to liquidate” the flying object, Golubev urged people to remain calm.
The regional governor reassured locals that “the sky is covered with anti-aircraft defences" and that there was no danger.
Local news channel Ostorozhna, Novosti showed footage of a shining, circular object exploding in the sky.
Rostov occupies an important area near the Sea of Azov, which is a body of water bounded by Russia on the east, and by Ukraine on the northwest and southwest.
The province was named as one of six Russian regions – along with two newly-annexed regions in which Russian president Vladimir Putin has introduced a "medium-response level”.
The response level includes movement restrictions and other public order measures.
A range of fires and explosions at strategic sites in Russia have been blamed on Ukrainian drones – potentially guided by operatives working within the country's borders.
The Engels airbase, which is located deep inside Russia, was targeted on Boxing Day, just as the Russian army was celebrating the 107th anniversary of the creation of its first air defence units.
The blast is believed to have been the latest long-range kamikaze drone attack on the base by Volodymyr Zelensky's forces.
Video footage showed bright flashes around the base as air raid sirens sounded throughout the area, with the sound of gunfire also heard.
The Engles airbase is 300 miles from Russia’s border with Ukraine and a further 100 miles from the current frontline in the Donbas region.
It is also home to a squadron of nuclear-capable bombers.
The New York Times has recently reported that Ukraine carried out the attack with drones and the help of a military reconnaissance unit coordinating it deep inside Russian territory.
