Russia said it scrambled a Su-30 fighter jet after intercepting a US Reaper MQ-9 military drone over the Black Sea.
Russia on Saturday said that it scrambled a Su-30 fighter jet to “prevent a violation of the Russian state border” by a US Reaper MQ-9 military drone over the Black Sea.
“As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign reconnaissance drone performed a U-turn away from the border,” the Russian defense ministry said, as per news agency AFP.
According to the ministry, the drone belonged to the US Air Force. “The Russian aircraft returned safely to its air base, there was no violation of the border,” it added, as quoted by AFP.
Tensions arose between Moscow and Washington in mid-March when another US Reaper drone crashed after colliding with a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea.
The fresh incident comes as Russia continues its offensive against Ukraine and is witnessing counterattacks in the form of drone operations to hit key targets.