Russian Federation Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Washington has acted with retaliatory measures aimed at allowing continued drone flights over the Black Sea. The remark follows a recent incident in which a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drone was engaged by Russian fighters over the Black Sea region, prompting Moscow to dispute claims of any weapon use or seizing of the aircraft. The comment signals Moscow’s intent to uphold its security posture amid continuing aerial activity in the area, which is influenced by Russia’s ongoing operations related to Ukraine. Ryabkov criticized the American side for denying the legality of Russia’s protective steps and for pursuing flights over the Black Sea in defiance of those measures. He warned that such actions would be met with appropriate countermeasures and emphasized that Russia’s security would be safeguarded through all available means. The exchange comes after Pentagon leadership and Russian defense authorities conducted discussions regarding the incident, with officials indicating that U.S. military aircraft would maintain operations in international airspace.
