Russia announced on Wednesday its intention to recover the remains of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone that crashed into the Black Sea. The drone went down on Tuesday after reportedly becoming "unflyable" when a Russian jet clipped its propeller, though Moscow has refuted these claims.
Russian security council secretary Nikolai Patrushev confirmed on state television that Moscow was attempting to locate the aircraft. He also stated that the drone's presence in the Black Sea was evidence of direct US involvement in the war.
Meanwhile, US officials are also searching for the drone. Senior Washington official John Kirby emphasized that if Russia finds the wreckage first, their ability to extract valuable intelligence would be significantly reduced. General Mark Milley, America's top military general, further reassured that the US has taken precautions to ensure there was nothing of value on the downed drone.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday morning and lasted about 30-40 minutes. US military officials claim that Russian jets dumped fuel on the drone several times before the collision. Pentagon spokesman Brig Gen Pat Ryder explained that the drone was "unflyable and uncontrollable," adding that the Russian aircraft likely sustained damage as well.
Russia's defense ministry denies that their two Su-27 fighter jets made any contact with the US drone, asserting that the drone crashed after a "sharp maneuver" and was flying with its transponders (communication devices) turned off.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, following the drone incident. In a statement, Russia's defense ministry said Shoigu attributed the incident to "increased reconnaissance activities against the interests of the Russian Federation" and described US drone flights off the coast of Crimea as "provocative."
Tensions have escalated over the Black Sea since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US and UK have increased surveillance flights while remaining within international airspace.
The downed Reaper drone may have been equipped with a surveillance pod capable of collecting electronic data, such as radar emissions. The US Department of Defense explained that these surveillance missions are intended to enhance security for Europe and support allied partners.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, told the BBC that incidents like the downing of a US drone over the Black Sea would be inevitable until Russia leaves Crimea, stressing that the Black Sea will remain unsafe as long as Russia controls the region. In response to the incident, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has vowed that the military will "continue to fly and operate" wherever international law permits.