A vertical light pole struck Ukraine: what was it?

On the night of August 26, a bright vertical pillar of light suddenly appeared over Ukraine, lasting only a few seconds, but attracting the attention of hundreds of people across the country. Witnesses from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and western regions actively photographed this unusual phenomenon, and the photos quickly spread through popular Telegram channels. Similar reports even came from Germany and France.

Meteorologists explain that this is an optical phenomenon known as a light pillar. It occurs when light from ground-based sources, such as streetlights or floodlights, reflects off tiny ice crystals in the air, creating the illusion of a thin beam of light against the night sky. Such phenomena are more likely to appear in cold weather when there are small ice crystals in the atmosphere, which explains the sudden appearance of this effect in late August.

Although the light pillar did not shine for long, it left a vivid impression on everyone who had the opportunity to see it, not only in Ukraine but also abroad.

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