Lavrov on the Use of Bayraktar Drones by Ukrainians in Donbas

Russia is verifying information about the use of Turkish drones by Kyiv in the Donbas, announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Tuesday that military personnel had used a Bayraktar drone for the first time in the conflict zone, which destroyed an enemy artillery piece with a bomb.

Flights of military aircraft and drones are prohibited along the entire contact line under the Minsk agreements.

“It is very difficult to determine where the truth lies and where the fabrication begins, given the abundance of recent statements from Kyiv authorities,” Lavrov said at a press conference. He added that Moscow would verify the information “by all possible means,” including through contacts with representatives from the Donbas.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that Kyiv had purchased strike drones from Turkey to “deter” Russia and protect its territory. It was later revealed that Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and the Turkish Bayraktar company signed a memorandum to establish a joint center for the maintenance and modernization of drones near Kyiv.