Tensions rise as a viral video captures a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, sparking concerns of further conflict.
The Pentagon released footage of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea on March 14, 2023.
The U.S. claims the collision was intentional, while Russia denies any collision occurred.
The incident has further strained relations between the two countries and raised concerns about potential conflict.
This marks the first military confrontation between the U.S. and Russia since the Russian invasion of Ukraine over a year ago.
The Pentagon released footage on Thursday depicting the moment when a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea.
According to the U.S., the Russian aircraft intentionally collided with the drone.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 14, when the U.S. reported that a Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea following a collision with a Russian Su-27 fighter jet’s propeller.
The now viral video released by Pentagon and obtained MandyNews.com shows the Russian jet approaching the drone.
The U.S. claims that at this moment, the Russian aircraft intentionally collided with the MQ-9 Reaper, causing it to lose speed and ultimately crash into the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula (see video below).
Washington further alleged that before the collision, Russian fighter jets approached at unsafe distances and even dumped fuel on the drone.
In response, Moscow denied any collision, asserting that the drone fell into the water after making sudden movements.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the U.S. drone was detected near the Russian border, prompting the fighter jets to launch and investigate the situation.
TASS, the Russian news agency, denied the use of airborne weapons or any contact with U.S. equipment.
On Wednesday, March 15, the day after the incident, the Kremlin and the White House exchanged heated rhetoric.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that following the episode, relations between the two countries were in a “regrettable” state and had reached an all-time low.
The March 14 incident marked the first military confrontation between the U.S. and Russia since the latter’s invasion of Ukraine over a year ago.
The case has sparked concerns about the potential for conflict between Moscow and Washington.
Throughout the war, the two countries have exchanged threats, with the Kremlin frequently criticizing the shipment of weapons to Ukraine by Western countries, primarily the United States.
