A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday. Which is brazen violation of international law,” causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle, the U.S. said. But Russia insisted its warplanes didn’t hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Instead, it said the drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into the water. Following an encounter with Russian fighter jets that scrambled to intercept it near Crimea.
The incident added to Russia-U.S. tensions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine. It is the first time since the height of the Cold War, A U.S. aircraft was brought down after an encounter with a Russian warplane. U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
The U.S. European Command said two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted the drone while it was operating within international airspace. It said one of the Russian fighters struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to bring it down in international waters.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the U.S. drone was flying over the Black Sea near Crimea. That intruded into an area that was declared off-limits by Russia as part of what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Provocation by Russia: US
The Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, described the U.S. drone flight as a “provocation”. He argued that there was no reason for U.S. military aircraft and warships to be near Russia’s borders.
As fighting continued in Ukraine, a Russian missile struck an apartment building Tuesday in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. Killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of the major urban strongholds the Donetsk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building. Which bore the brunt of the strike that damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a bank branch, and two cars, said regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.