On the evening of Tuesday, March 14, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with an American Reaper drone over the Black Sea. “Our MQ-9 was performing routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and rammed by a Russian aircraft, resulting in the crash and loss of the MQ-9.”said General James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe.
Since the start of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, this was the first time that a country that is a member of NATO and supports Ukraine has admitted the loss of self-operated equipment in this region, which is described as highly inflammable.
sequel after announcement
The war in Ukraine: 4 scenarios for the continuation of the conflict
The airspace of the Black Sea is a zone of regular interaction between UAVs and aircraft from NATO countries and the Russian armed forces. According to General Hecker, This is a dangerous and unprofessional act on the part of the Russians He reminded Russia that ” US and allied drones will continue to operate in international airspace.”
Tensions between Washington and Moscow
The United States accused the Russian Air Force of having it I objected and was shocked American drone. verb is called indiscreet By John Kirby, White House spokesman. In response, the US State Department summoned Anatoly Antanov, the Russian ambassador to the United States. For her part, US Ambassador Lynn Tracy sent a message to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“We are in direct contact with the Russians, at the level of senior officials, to convey to them our strong objection to this objection.”US foreign affairs spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
Kyiv’s extraordinary pressure in Washington
Moscow denied these accusations, but admitted that two of its fighters had intercepted an American drone. in the Crimea region ». The army defended itself by saying: Russian fighters did not use their weapons »And that they did not come into contact with the plane that was flying With transceivers turned off and who violated “The area of the temporary regime for the use of airspace established for the implementation of the special military operation.” This special operation is the term used by Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
sequel after announcement
Today, Wednesday, March 15, Moscow calls on Washington to stop flights. hostile from unmanned aircraft. Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov considers the presence of US drones in this region a threat.
Towards an extension of the conflict?
Russia has also announced that it wants to recover the wreckage of the American drone. “I don’t know if we will be able to reach him or not, but we have to try. We will necessarily take care of him, and of course I hope for success. The Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, told Russian television.
The Americans support Ukraine … but they have “the head in China”
Ukraine accuses Russia of acting deliberately to demonstrate its willingness to expand the conflict.
“The incident of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone that Russia caused in the Black Sea is a signal from (Vladimir) Putin that he is ready to expand the conflict zone and involve other parties in it.”This was announced on Twitter by the Secretary of the Security Council of Ukraine, Oleksich Danilov. According to him, the Russians are using “total tactic” consists in “always ahead”.
“This dangerous episode comes against the backdrop of the aggressive, dangerous and dangerous actions of Russian pilots in international airspace.”Says Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense at the start of a meeting of countries supporting Ukraine.
