Over Black Sea
Russia sends out fighter jet because of US drone
08/05/2023, 6:50 p.m
A US reconnaissance drone threatens to enter Russian airspace over the Black Sea. At least that’s what the Kremlin claims and sends out a warplane to force the drone to turn back. All international rules were strictly observed, Moscow asserts.
According to information from Moscow, Russia has launched a fighter jet because of a US drone over the Black Sea. The Defense Ministry announced that the unmanned aerial vehicle had approached the Russian state border. A Su-30 fighter plane then took off to identify it and not allow the border to be violated. After the maneuver, the MQ-9A “Reaper” drone turned away and the fighter jet returned to its base.
“The flight of the Russian fighter jet was carried out in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters and in compliance with safety measures,” the ministry said. No information was given on the exact location of the incident. Initially, there was no comment from Washington.
After the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014, Russia considers significantly larger parts of the waters in the Black Sea to be its territory than the international community. That’s why incidents happen all the time.
Fighter jet collides with drone
In mid-March, an unmanned US drone collided with a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea, according to Washington. The US blamed “unsafe and unprofessional” actions on the part of the Russian side. US forces should have brought down the drone. At the same time, the US government tried to avoid an escalation. Moscow then announced in May that it had intercepted four US strategic bombers in two separate incidents within a week over the Baltic Sea.
In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine since February last year, there are great concerns about a direct military confrontation between the USA and Russia. The Americans are supporting Kiev on a large scale with military equipment, but rule out participating with their own soldiers.
However, Russia does not only report incidents with the USA. According to its own statements, Russia also wants to have intercepted machines from Germany, Poland, France and Great Britain in the past few months.