MOSCOW: The United States (US) drone flights over the Black Sea is a sign of the US’s direct involvement in the conflict with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
Last week, a US drone crashed into the Black sea after being intercepted by Russian Su-27 fighter jets in the first known direct military encounter between the two countries since Russia launched the war in Ukraine last year.
“It is quite clear what these drones are doing, and their mission can not be a peaceful mission to ensure the shipping’s safety in international waters,” Interfax news agency quoted Dmitry Peskov as saying in a Television interview.
“And in fact, we are discussing the direct involvement of the operators of these unmanned aircraft in the conflict and against us.”
US says Russian jets harassed drones
The US said the Russian fighter jets harassed the drone in last week’s incident and sprayed fuel on the aircraft before one of them clipped its propeller and crashed while on a reconnaissance mission in international airspace.
Russia claimed the drone had violated airspace restrictions and lost control after maneuvering sharply.
The Russian defence minister has presented awards to the airmen involved in a retort to US accusations that the incident showed possible incompetence and recklessness on the part of the pilots.
Moscow says the US and its allies are using Ukraine to wage war against it and inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia. The US says it is helping Ukraine to defend its territory against an unprovoked Russian invasion.
