U.S. Claims Russian Jet Caused Spy Drone Crash Over Black Sea

The United States (U.S.) military said a Russian fighter plane clipped the propeller of one its spy drones and made it crash into the Black Sea on Tues­day in the first such direct encoun­ter between the two world powers since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago.

Thursday 16 March 2023 | 06:30

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone in a hanger at Amari Air Base in Estonia. U.S. unmanned aircrafts are deployed in Estonia to support NATO's intelligence gathering missions in the Baltics. Photo: Reuters

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone in a hanger at Amari Air Base in Estonia. U.S. unmanned aircrafts are deployed in Estonia to support NATO's intelligence gathering missions in the Baltics. Photo: Reuters

The United States (U.S.) military said a Russian fighter plane clipped the propeller of one its spy drones and made it crash into the Black Sea on Tues­day in the first such direct encoun­ter between the two world powers since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago.

The Russian defence ministry of­fered a different account and Mos­cow's ambassador to Washington said his country "views this inci­dent as a provocation" involving a U.S. MQ-9 drone and Russian Su-27 fighter jet.

The U.S, which has provided bil­lions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, has not become directly engaged in the war but it conducts regular surveillance flights in the region. Ukrainian President

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Source:  Reuters

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