• The US military has released a video of a Russian jet hitting a drone over the Black Sea, which has gone viral on the internet. 
  • The US said the damage to the large drone meant it had to be brought down into the water near Crimea on Tuesday. 
  • Russia denied its Su-27 fighter jet clipped the propeller of the drone, but the video appears to back up the American version of events.
  • Russia claimed that the drone was approaching its territory, but there is no visible evidence of this from the video footage. 

The drone reportedly crashed into the waters near Crimea as a result of the incident. While Russia disputed this version of events, the Pentagon’s review of the evidence suggests otherwise. 

Secretary Lloyd Austin has indicated that though the video footage is being looked into it, it may take some time before it is declassified and made available to the public. 

In any case, what happened in that airspace over the Black Sea will remain an intriguing topic for some time to come.

Mr. Austin had previously criticized Russia’s actions, describing them as dangerous and reckless. The video footage that was released seems to back up this claim.

The footage from a camera mounted on the drone shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet making two very close passes and releasing what appears to be fuel as it approaches.

In the first pass, the camera’s lens is seemingly covered by the jet, and in the second pass, the jet disrupts the video feed from the drone. When the video feed returns, a blade of the drone’s propeller at the back of the aircraft can be seen bent out of shape.

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, told the BBC that it is unclear whether the Russian action was deliberate or accidental.

However, he emphasized that the move was “completely inappropriate, unsafe, and unprofessional.” Surveillance flights will continue over the Black Sea, but military escorts are unnecessary and put pilots at risk, according to Mr. Kirby.

Russia claimed that the drone was approaching its territory, but there is no visible evidence of this from the video footage.

Moscow appeared to suggest on Tuesday that it had imposed a unilateral no-fly zone over the region as part of its invasion of Ukraine. 

Russian Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said the drone had “violated boundaries of the temporary airspace regime established for the special military operation.” However, Mr. Kirby clarified that the airspace was international and not restricted.

According to a statement released by the US, Russian jets dumped fuel on the drone several times before the collision. 

Pentagon spokesman Brig Gen Pat Ryder told reporters the drone was “unflyable and uncontrollable,” adding that the collision likely damaged the Russian aircraft. 

Russia’s defense ministry claimed that the drone crashed after a “sharp maneuver” and that it was flying with its communication devices turned off.

The Kremlin has yet to respond to the release of the US video. Russian ships were seen at the site of the downed drone on the Black Sea, according to US media reports. 

Mr. Kirby said that the US was also searching for the aircraft but stressed that if Russia beat them to it, “their ability to exploit useful intelligence will be highly minimized.”

This message was reiterated by General Mark Milley, America’s top military general, who said the US has taken “mitigating measures” to ensure that there was nothing of value on the downed drone.

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