The Kremlin considers the incident with the Russian Su-27 fighter jet and the American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea a “provocation,” according to statements by the Russian ambassador to the United States, broadcast by the RIA Novosti agency. .

“We view this incident as a provocation,” Anatoly Antonov said after being summoned to the US State Department to brief the US government’s “strong protest” over the incident.

Washington claims that the American MQ-9 Ripper crashed due to a collision with a Russian Su-27 fighter. Moscow categorically rejects this version, claiming that it was wrecked as a result of a sharp maneuver.

For its part, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that Moscow must respect international airspace.

Mr. Wallace made the announcement to the Reuters news agency on the sidelines of an exhibition in Chiba, near Tokyo.

The US military said Tuesday it was forced to drop the UAV into the sea after a Russian fighter jet intercepted it and damaged its propeller.

The incident, which occurred at 08:03 on Tuesday, was the result of an “unsafe and unprofessional interception” by a Russian fighter jet, according to the US European Command. The State Department summoned Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to Washington, and handed him a protest over the incident.

In Moscow, the Defense Ministry rejected the American version of events. It says that the UAV crashed in the Black Sea, near the Crimean peninsula, due to a sharp maneuver and that it was never shot down by a Russian fighter.

He clarified that fighter jets were sent to identify an unknown intruder threatening to violate Russian airspace. The Russian fighter jets did not use weapons or make contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle, returning safely to base, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Instead, US European Command said a Russian Su-27 fighter jet flew in front of the UAV and deliberately spilled fuel on it before knocking out its propeller. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said that since it was no longer possible to maneuver, the decision was made to dive into the Black Sea. He estimated that one Russian fighter was also damaged and that the interception took 30 to 40 minutes.

Aircraft of the MQ-9 type are mainly used for reconnaissance, but can also carry weapons and have countermeasures. They have sensors capable of covering vast areas.

The US Pentagon has not specified, at least not yet, what the UAV’s mission was or whether it was armed.

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters.