Russia-Ukraine Flash Report 19 APR 2023 17:00 PDT - Flash Over Kyiv Was Not RHESSI
Added 2023-04-20 00:01:23 +0000 UTCThe truth matters.
Earlier today, there was a bright flash and a streak of light over Kyiv, which for understandable reasons, created alarm in the city - figurative and literally.
Ukrainian officials are claiming the source was the NASA RHESSI satellite, which is set to enter an uncontrolled deorbit today. The 220-kilogram satellite is expected to burn up during reentry, but there is a small chance a few pieces could reach Earth's surface.
At the time of the flash in Kyiv, which looks very much like a meteor, RHESSI telemetry showed the satellite was over the Middle East and had yet to deorbit. It is expected to enter the atmosphere around 18:30 hours PST.
In our assessment, the incident over Kyiv was a meteor, and it is impossible for it to be RHESSI, regardless of what the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is saying. The videos are inconsistent with air defense, a missile attack, a drone attack, or a missile that suffered an in-flight anomaly.
