Russian Defense Minister nominates pilots who shot down US drone over Black Sea for state awards

This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The ministry claims that the US drone violated the airspace in which the Russian military is conducting a "special military operation," as Russia calls the war against Ukraine.

"The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, presented state awards to the pilots of Su-27 aircraft who prevented the violation of the boundaries of the temporary airspace use regime area established for a special military operation by the American MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle," the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.

• On March 14, in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The drone was shot down as a result of the incident. After the incident, the United States began negotiations with Russia at the "highest level" and summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington.

• Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said after the incident with the US drone that Moscow does not want a confrontation with the United States, but "American aircraft have no business being near the Russian border."