US and Russian military make first contact in Ukraine war after Russian jet brings down US drone over Black Sea

By bne IntelliNews March 15, 2023

A US MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea after its propeller was clipped by a Russian Su-27 fighter plane on March 14, in the first physical contact between Russia and the US military since the war in Ukraine started over a year ago.

The US military claimed that the Russian fighter jet had conducted a reckless intercept and dumped fuel on the drone, possibly attempting to damage or blind it, before colliding with it.

The Russian defence ministry denied the US account and said that the drone had been detected near the Crimea peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Ukraine's President Voldoymyr Zelenskiy said that military commanders were unanimously in favour of defending the eastern frontline, including the ruined city of Bakhmut, which has been under siege by Russia for over nine months.

The incident highlights fears that the conflict in Ukraine might escalate and lead to a direct confrontation between Nato and Russia, resulting in WWIII.

Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

Republic of Congo expands oil partnerships, eyes closer ties with Azerbaijan

The Republic of the Congo’s President Denis Sassou-Nguesso is diversifying the West African country’s oil and gas partnerships in search of reliable allies to explore its substantial reserves, ... more

France's spending on Russian LNG surges to over €600mn this year

France's spending on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) surged to over €600mn this year, EU data reveals, Politico reports. The increase comes as French President Emmanuel Macron becomes ... more

LNG imports improving EU energy security as Russian gas supplies fall to 8% of gas imports

Liquefied natural gas helps make Europe’s gas supply more secure as it doesn’t rely on existing pipeline infrastructure, allowing EU countries to diversify the sources of their imports, the ... more

Follow Us On

Most Read

  1. Iran vs Israel: Who is better equipped for war?
    5 days ago
  2. Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for Neom city
    9 days ago
  3. BREAKING: Iraq, Syria and Jordan close airspace amid Iranian strike on Israel
    5 days ago
  4. PANNIER: Caspian military drills that exclude Russia and Iran have some people in Moscow asking questions
    6 days ago
  5. Oil continues to flow to Israel via Turkey despite Erdogan’s vehement speeches on plight of Gaza
    5 months ago
  1. Russia could pay off its entire external debt tomorrow, in cash
    19 days ago
  2. Speculation swirls of “Men in Blue” in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack linked to FSB
    24 days ago
  3. Albanians campaign on social media to keep bus bridge created in freak accident
    1 year ago
  4. UBN: Russia could take the Baltic states in 48 hours
    29 days ago
  5. BRICS announce a blockchain-based payment system to create a common currency
    22 days ago

Reports

Dismiss