US takes steps to prevent drone shot down over Black Sea from falling into wrong hands - White House

This was announced by the White House Strategic Communications Coordinator for National Security and Defense John Kirby, CNN reports. 

According to him, the US has taken measures to ensure that the MQ-9 Reaper drone, which fell after being hit by a Russian Su-27 over the Black Sea, does not fall into the wrong hands. 

"We obviously don’t want to see anybody getting their hands on it beyond us," Kirby said, but did not specify what measures had been taken. 

He added that the US does not accept Russia's denial of guilt over the incident.  

"People should take everything that the Russians say about what they’re doing in and around Ukraine with a huge grain of salt," Kirby said, calling Russia's actions "unsafe, unprofessional, and reckless." 

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

• Later, the Pentagon stated that the Russian fighter jet was damaged and the drone did not fall into Russian hands. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that it did not fire at the drone and that it was flying in the direction of Crimea.

• On March 15, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said after the incident with the downing of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea that Moscow does not want a confrontation with the US, but "American aircraft have no business near the Russian border."