On the morning of March 14, an American MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drone crashed in the Black Sea. The United States said it collided with a Russian Su-27 fighter jet and accused the Russian pilots of “lack of professionalism”. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the fighters did not come into contact with the drone: it fell after losing control “as a result of sudden maneuvers”. The State Department protested to Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov. He called the appearance of a drone over the Black Sea a provocation. RTVI has gathered the reaction of officials and observers to the incident.
Spokesman Brigadier General for the US Department of Defense Pat Ryder
According to Ryder, two Su-27 fighters carried out a “dangerous and unprofessional interception” of an American drone. According to the Pentagon, one of the Russian planes crashed into the propeller of the MQ-9, after which the drone lost control. As a result, the US military had to shoot it down over international waters, Ryder said.
The general said the Su-27s dumped fuel several times before colliding with the drone and flew past it “in a reckless and unprofessional manner”.
“This incident demonstrates incompetence as well as insecurity and lack of professionalism,” Ryder said, referring to the Russian pilots.
According to the general, the MQ-9 Reaper was on a reconnaissance mission in international airspace. At the same time, American drones flew over Black Sea waters even before the conflict in Ukraine, and their interceptions in themselves are not unusual, Ryder said. “Unusual”, as well as “unfortunate and dangerous”, according to him, was the behavior of the Russian pilots.
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov
According to the diplomat, the American drone flew with the transponders turned off and entered the area of the military operation, which Russia had warned about on international channels.
“I think this is a real provocation. It provoked us to certain specific actions, after which one could blame Russia, the Russian military for some kind of unprofessionalism,” Antonov said (quote according to TASS).
The ambassador noted that the Su-27 fighters did not use weapons against the MQ-9 Reaper and called the actions of the Russian pilots “very professional”. “There was no contact, no weapons were used by our fighters,” Antonov said.
He expressed the view that US drones flying over the Black Sea “are engaged in the collection of intelligence information, which is then used by the Kiev regime to strike at our armed forces and territory.”
“We perceive all actions with the use of US weapons and equipment as openly hostile,” underline Antonov.
At the same time, he said Russia does not want a confrontation with the United States and called the meeting at the State Department with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried constructive.
“Russia does not seek confrontation and stands for pragmatic cooperation in the interests of the peoples of our countries,” Antonov said. At the same time, Moscow expects the United States “to refrain from further speculation in the media space and to stop flights near Russian borders”, the diplomat added.
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby
The United States has taken steps to ensure the downed MQ-9 drone does not fall into the wrong hands, Kirby said. “Obviously we don’t want anyone but us to get it.” said White House spokesperson for CNN.
He added that in recent weeks Russian planes have also intercepted other American planes over the Black Sea. However, the MQ-9 case deserves attention because of the “dangerous, unprofessional and reckless” actions of the Russian pilots, Kirby said.
He added that the United States does not accept Russia’s denial of responsibility for what happened to the drone.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky
The incident with an American drone over the Black Sea showed that the United States “is not only involved in the Ukrainian conflict, but also continues to provoke its aggravation”. declared Slutsky in his telegram channel.
The deputy called the MQ-9 crash and the Pentagon’s reaction an “obvious but failed provocation.”
“It is time for the United States to realize the danger and possible direct consequences of its drone adventures near Russian borders,” Slutsky wrote.
He described the actions of the Russian pilots as professional and “balanced”. According to him, the pilots did not allow “neither contact, nor collision (with the drone), nor violation of the border of the Russian Federation”.
Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
The ISW believes that the downing of an American drone will not lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and the United States. This is stated in the Institute’s daily analyst report.
“The Russian military has used pressure tactics against US and allied aircraft and ships in various theaters for decades without causing conflict,” the ISW said.
The presidents of the United States and Russia retain “complete freedom in choosing the response to such incidents, and such situations do not involve automatic escalation,” the summary states.
US leader Joe Biden has repeatedly vowed to avoid bringing US troops into direct conflict with Russia, and the Kremlin is showing “obvious reluctance” to get involved in a NATO war, according to ISW analysts. Therefore, experts see no reason for incidents like a drone crash to lead to dangerous escalation.
