The crash of an unmanned US surveillance drone over the Black Sea after an encounter with Russian fighter jets was probably not the intention of the Russians, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said yesterday. After the incident, Russia warned the United States to stay away from its territory. The incident took place in the airspace near the Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia.
Moscow speaks in provocation
Russia’s military accused the Pentagon of provocation. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu pointed out that the United States ignored airspace closures in connection with the war in Ukraine, the ministry in Moscow said in a phone call between Shoigu and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on Wednesday. In addition, the United States has increased its reconnaissance activities towards Russia. That’s the reason for the incident. “It was emphasized that US strategic drone flights off the Crimean coast are provocative in nature,” the statement said.
Earlier, it was known that the two ministers had called to clarify the military incident in the Black Sea. Both sides stressed that they had no interest in the situation escalating. After the incident, fears grew that the war in Ukraine could intensify and other participants could be drawn into the conflict.