Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Antonov, rejected claims from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the downing of the MQ-9 Reaper UAV in the Black Sea, as reported by the telegraph channel of the Russian diplomatic mission. The ambassador explained that a thirty-minute meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Karen Donfried occurred, with half of the time spent voicing concerns over what Moscow views as provocative moves by the United States in the Black Sea region.
According to Antonov, there has been a persistent pattern in which the U.S. Navy and Air Force exercise control over aspects of Russia’s air defense. He described efforts to illuminate and probe Russia’s defensive posture, to identify potential vulnerabilities, and to determine how Moscow might respond to any perceived threat or incursion. He warned against actions that would infringe on the water area Russia deems within its sovereign domain, emphasizing that Russia will not permit unauthorized access or operations in what it regards as its own waters. The diplomat characterized these developments as provocative, underscoring that Moscow expects restraint and adherence to international norms in the Black Sea area.
In a separate statement, Nikolai Patrushev, a former secretary of the Russian Security Council, reiterated Moscow’s position on recovering the downed drone’s debris. Patrushev asserted that Russia would attempt to retrieve the wreckage of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone that fell into the Black Sea, framing the incident within broader discussions about security, sovereignty, and the handling of unexploded or recovered equipment in international waters. This stance reflects ongoing tensions in the region and highlights the competing narratives regarding the incident, enforcement of air and sea domain boundaries, and the implications for future aerial operations near Russia’s coastline.