The United States Air Force surveillance drone was caught on camera, according to the Pentagon, being unsafely intercepted by a Russian aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea, reported news agency AP. The Pentagon stated that the 42-second video that was made public on Thursday shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as it passes.
The Russian fighter jet apparently poured fuel on the unmanned aerial vehicle in an apparent attempt to blind its optical instruments and drive it out of the area before striking its propeller, according to the U.S. military, prompting it to ditch the MQ-9 Reaper in the sea on Tuesday.
The events occurring prior to or following the alleged fuel-dumping confrontation are not depicted in the released excerpt.
Following their encounter with Russian fighter jets, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley have discussed the destruction of the American drone with Russian counterparts.
The first calls since October were on Wednesday with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov.
The incident that occurred during the conflict in Ukraine has raised concerns that it could bring the United States and Russia closer to direct conflict, despite the fact that intercept attempts are not uncommon.
The seriousness of the encounter over the Black Sea was demonstrated by the fact that the two nations' top defense and military leaders were conversing so quickly after it.
In its report on the call with Austin, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that Shoigu accused the United States of provoking the incident by ignoring flight restrictions imposed by the Kremlin due to its military operations in Ukraine.
Russia also blamed "the intensification of intelligence activities against the interests of the Russian Federation," quoted AP.
Such U.S. actions "are fraught with escalation of the situation in the Black Sea area,” the Defense Ministry said, warning that Russia “will respond in kind to all provocations."