The United States State Department summoned the Russian Ambassador to discuss the incident over the Black Sea, a move reported by Reuters citing a State Department spokesperson. The aim was to secure a meeting with top U.S. officials later in the day.
Ambassador Anatoly Antonov later described a meeting with Karen Donfried, who assists the secretary of state, as part of ongoing discussions. He said Moscow viewed the drone downing as a provocation and stressed that Russia does not seek confrontation with the United States. Antonov also stated that Russian fighters had not used any weapons during the encounter, according to his remarks to reporters.
Earlier, US European Command had announced that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted a United States MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea. Washington maintains that one of the Russian aircraft struck the drone’s propeller, forcing the U.S. to bring the drone down into the sea.
US Air Force General James G. Glynn (commander of EUCOM) described the drone as performing routine operations when it was intercepted and struck. He labeled the Russians’ actions as unsafe. President Joe Biden was informed of the incident, and White House spokesperson John Kirby characterized it as unusual in terms of conventional interceptions but emphasized the seriousness of how the event unfolded.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied the United States’ claims. A ministry statement asserted that the MQ-9 flew with its transponders off and violated the boundaries of a temporary airspace regime set for a special military operation in Ukraine. The ministry also claimed it had previously announced the establishment of this temporary no-fly zone and noted that the Su-27s did not use airborne weapons, avoided contact with the drone, and returned to base without incident.
According to a Russian defense press release, the drone’s uncontrolled flight began after a sharp maneuver at around 09:30 Moscow time, resulting in a loss of altitude and a crash into the water. The MQ-9 Reaper is capable of speeds surpassing 400 kilometers per hour and can stay aloft for up to 24 hours. It is commonly equipped with a suite of Hellfire missiles and other surveillance gear. As of 2021, the unit price for an MQ-9 in the U.S. Air Force inventory was reported at 56.5 million dollars, whereas a Su-27’s value on the international market has commonly been cited in the 30 to 35 million dollar range. Pentagon spokespersons noted that the drone’s mission focused on reconnaissance and surveillance, and that direct talks with Russian authorities about this specific incident did not occur. The department declined to disclose details about possible weapons on board or the presence of sensitive intelligence equipment, citing security considerations.
In a historical note, the Su-27’s interception of a reconnaissance aircraft near Yalta on January 29, 2018 is referenced. Russian outlets described the action as a routine demonstration to allied forces, while the Pentagon warned that such maneuvers could undermine international aviation norms and heighten the risk of miscalculation between the two militaries. Moscow asserted that the Su-27 maneuvers were standard, lawful, and safe for an American platform, while American officials urged Moscow to adjust flight patterns near Russia’s borders and to negotiate future flight rules. The Pentagon reiterated that American flights over the Black Sea fall under international airspace, suggesting continued air operations in the region would persist at the time of the event.