A Bayraktar drone was shot down over Kyiv. Why did it happen?

May 05, 2023

This incident unpleasantly surprised me. First of all, because the Ukrainians had to shoot down their own drone. Secondly, it happened over the residential quarters of Kyiv 

Taking into account my 30 years of service with the Air Force, I do have questions that are usually asked by the investigation board. I do not wish to raise these questions for public discussion, because they should be left for specialists (and specialists are familiar with the procedures), and at least a dozen of these questions should make the basis of a special investigation.

It is also desirable not to forget about what we call the civilian democratic oversight of the Armed Forces in this investigation. The main purpose of the investigation is not to punish those guilty, but to find the real reasons and to prevent similar incidents in the future. The good thing however is that the command of the Air Force and the Armed Forces in general did not try to chalk it on the war and Russian aggression, but recognized this incident and was honest about its cause... 

Source:

https://razumkov.org.ua/komentari/zbyttia-bairaktara-nad-kyievom-chomu-stavsia-tsei-intsydent

 

Oleksiy Melnyk

Co-Director, Foreign Relations and International Security Programmes, Coordinator of International Projects


Born in 1962 in Khmelnytsty Rgn

Education:

Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK (2007)

Air Field Operations Officer School, Biloxy, MS, US (2001)

Squadron Officer School, Montgomery, AL, US (1994)

Defence Language Institute, San Antonio, TX, US (1994)

Chernihiv Higher Military Air Force Academy, Ukraine (1984)

Employment:

1980 – 2001 — Air Force Active Service (Cadet, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Squadron Commander, Deputy Air Force Base Commander, Participant of two UN peacekeeping operations, Lt.Colonel (Ret)

2001 – 2004 — Razumkov Centre

2004 – 2005 — State Company Ukroboronservice

2005 – 2008 — Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Head Organisational and Analytical Division — First Assistant to Minister of Defence

(044) 201-11-95

melnyk@razumkov.org.ua

oleksiy.melnyk