Russia Continues US Drones In The Black Sea, Threatens To Take Strict Action On Reconnaissance

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov ordered officials to prepare a response to US drone flights in the Black Sea. Moscow threatened to take firm action to block American reconnaissance aircraft.

Russia's Ministry of Defense noted an increase in the intensity of US drones in the Black Sea recently by calling the drone intelligence and targeting precision weapons supplied to the Ukrainian military by Western countries to attack Russian facilities.

"This shows the increased involvement of the US and other NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime," the ministry said.

Airplane flights are said to significantly increase the possibility of incidents involving Russian military aircraft, thereby increasing the risk of direct confrontation between the alliance and the Russian Federation.

"NATO members will take responsibility for that," he added.

The ministry explained, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has directed general staff to make proposals regarding operational response measures to provocations.

Washington and Moscow had previously clashed over this issue. In March 2023, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet damaged the US MQ-9 striker and crashed into the Black Sea.

The repeat of such confrontations could further trigger tensions related to war in Ukraine.

The Pentagon and US European Command said after the incident, two Russian Su-27 planes dumped fuel into MQ-9, which was carrying out routine surveillance missions in the Black Sea in international airspace.

Russia's Defense Ministry said US drones flew near Russia's borders and infiltrated territory declared prohibited by Russian authorities.