Kazakhstan bolstering airspace control after drone explosion

​​​​​​​By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kazakhstan said Thursday it is bolstering control of its airspace as a drone of unknown origin exploded in a district of the Central Asian nation bordering Russia.

The Defense Ministry said on Telegram that the drone exploded in a remote area in the Borili district in the West Kazakhstan region, and no injuries or property damage were reported.

The region’s administrative center, the town of Aksay, is about 160 kilometers (99.4 miles) west of the city of Orenburg, where Ukraine claimed it struck a gas processing plant with a drone attack last week. Astana said that the strike resulted in the facility temporarily halting gas deliveries from the Karachaganak gas field, near the Russian border.

“Investigations are underway in collaboration with authorized government agencies to establish the circumstances of the incident and the origin of the object,” said the Defense Ministry.

It said it has taken “additional measures to strengthen airspace control and prevent unauthorized aircraft from crossing the state border.”

“Consultations are underway with foreign partners who may potentially own these aircraft,” it added.

The Russian Defense Ministry earlier claimed that its air defenses shot down 171 Ukrainian drones above Russia between midnight and midday Thursday, of which one was downed over the Orenburg region.

Neither Russian nor Ukrainian authorities have commented on Kazakhstan’s statement.