Additional Coverage:
- Russia warns it can take unspecified measures in response to US drone flights over Black Sea (newsbreak.com)
An American MQ-9 drone was showcased during an air show at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan on January 23, 2018. In light of recent events, Russia’s defense minister has signaled plans for a retaliatory “response” to U.S. drone operations above the Black Sea, which may hint at Moscow’s readiness to use force against American reconnaissance missions, as announced by the Russian Ministry on Friday.
Russia has voiced concerns over the escalation of U.S. drone missions in the Black Sea region. According to the ministry, these drones have been actively collecting intelligence and aiding in targeting for precision strikes on Russian sites, utilizing weapons supplied to Ukraine by western nations.
The ministry accused the U.S. and NATO of escalating their support for Ukraine, thereby intensifying their involvement in the conflict, and highlighted the risks these flights pose by increasing the likelihood of encounters with Russian military aircraft—a situation that could potentially lead to a direct confrontation with the Russian Federation, for which NATO would be held accountable.
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has tasked the General Staff with developing strategies to counteract what Russia perceives as provocations.
This directive follows a prior incident in March 2023, where a Russian Su-27 fighter jet came into contact with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, marking the first direct engagement between the U.S. and Russian military units since the Cold War era. This event has raised concerns over the possibility of escalating tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
After the incident, the U.S. clarified that the encounter occurred during a standard surveillance mission in international airspace over the Black Sea, challenged by two Russian Su-27 jets. In contrast, Russia asserted that the drone was near Russian borders, trespassing in a no-fly zone as declared by Russia.
The implications of such confrontations are significant, considering Russia’s history of declaring vast areas near Crimea, annexed in 2014, as restricted zones—a practice continuing amidst allegations against U.S. surveillance operations near Russian borders.
The context of this tension includes a recent Ukrainian assault on Sevastopol with U.S.-manufactured ATACMS missiles, causing multiple casualties and injuries, an attack Russia claims was supported by U.S. intelligence.
Concurrently, Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has announced a military build-up along Ukraine’s border in what it describes as a preventive measure against security threats, including deploying multiple rocket launchers and responding to a Ukrainian drone they claim crossed into their territory.
For further information on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, refer to AP’s dedicated coverage.