Anatoly Antonov said that the "unacceptable activity" of the US military in the immediate vicinity of Russia's borders is of concern.WASHINGTON, March 15.
/tass/. American drones collect intelligence data, which is subsequently used by Kiev to launch strikes against Russian forces and the territory of the Russian Federation. This was stated on Tuesday by Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov.
"The unacceptable activity of the US military in the immediate vicinity of our borders is of concern. We are well aware of the purpose for which such unmanned reconnaissance and strike vehicles are used," the diplomat's comments circulated by the embassy said in connection with the fact that the American MQ-9 drone crashed in the Black Sea.
As Antonov recalled, the coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, stated that American UAVs make such flights on a daily basis. "What are they doing thousands of kilometers away from the United States? The answer is obvious: they are collecting intelligence information, which is subsequently used by the Kiev regime to attack our armed forces and territory," the ambassador said.
"Let's ask ourselves a rhetorical question: if, for example, a Russian drone strike appeared near New York or San Francisco, what would be the reaction of the US Air Force and Navy? I am sure that the actions of the US military would be uncompromising in nature, not allowing a "breakthrough" of its air or sea space," Antonov stressed. "We proceed from the assumption that the United States will refrain from further speculation in the media space and will stop flights near the Russian borders."
"We perceive any actions involving the use of American weapons and equipment as openly hostile," the diplomat added. He recalled that Washington has already supplied Kiev with military products worth $ 33 billion. "Just think about these numbers! After all, it is absolutely obvious that it is the United States that is leading the situation to a deliberate escalation, fraught with direct armed conflict," he stressed.
"We believe it is important that the communication lines remain open. Russia does not seek confrontation and stands for pragmatic cooperation in the interests of the peoples of our countries," Antonov concluded.
As stated by the Russian Defense Ministry, the means of control of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded on Tuesday morning the flight of an American MQ-9 drone in the area of the Crimean Peninsula. According to the ministry, the flight was carried out with the transponders turned off "in violation of the boundaries of the area of the temporary regime for the use of airspace established for the purpose of conducting a special military operation, communicated to all users of international airspace and published in accordance with international norms."
The Russian Defense Ministry added that the drone, as a result of sharp maneuvering, went into an uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface. The Russian fighters did not use airborne weapons, did not come into contact with the unmanned aerial vehicle and returned safely to the home airfield, the military department clarified.
According to the European Command of the US Armed Forces, one of the two Russian Su-27 aircraft hit the propeller of an American drone, which led to its crash in the waters of the Black Sea. US President Joe Biden was informed about the incident, the Russian ambassador to Washington was summoned to the State Department.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a modular reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. It is equipped with a turboprop engine that allows you to reach speeds of more than 400 km / h. The maximum duration of the UAV flight is 24 hours. It is capable of carrying air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, as well as laser-guided bombs.
