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In a uncommon transfer, the Pentagon has launched a de-classified video exhibiting Russia’s intercept of a United States army surveillance drone downed over the Black Sea.
It was the primary direct US-Russian incident because the Ukraine battle started, worsening already tense relations between Washington and Moscow.
Within the video, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet comes very near the US MQ-9 drone and dumps gasoline close to it, in what US officers say was an obvious effort to break the American plane because it flew over the Black Sea.
It additionally reveals the lack of the video feed after one other shut Russian manoeuvre, which the Pentagon says resulted from the Russian jet’s collision with the drone.
It ends with photos of the drone’s broken propeller, which the Pentagon says resulted from the collision, making the plane inoperable.
The video, which is about 40 seconds lengthy, has been edited by the US army for size however reveals occasions in sequential order, the Pentagon stated.
The US Air Drive has launched the MQ-9 digital camera footage of the Russian Su-27 Black Sea interception 2 days in the past.
Flightradar24 didn’t observe the drone concerned. pic.twitter.com/ZOSddEnIXq
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 16, 2023
Russia has denied US accusations that its jets acted recklessly within the incident on Tuesday over the Black Sea, and as an alternative has blamed “sharp manoeuvring” by the drone for the crash, claiming its jet didn’t make contact.
The incident over worldwide waters was a reminder of the danger of direct confrontation between the US and Russia over Ukraine, which Moscow invaded greater than a 12 months in the past and which Western allies have supported with intelligence and weapons.
The discharge of the video adopted separate calls on Wednesday between the highest US common, Mark Milley, and his Russian counterpart, Chief of the Common Employees Valery Gerasimov, in addition to between US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu.
In remarks to reporters on Wednesday, Milley stated it was clear the intercept and harassment of the drone by Russian jets was intentional, nevertheless it was unclear whether or not the Russian pilots meant to slam their plane into the drone – a transfer that would additionally put the Russian plane in danger.
– Reuters
