Moscow. March 17. INTERFAX - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented to the state awards the pilots of Su-27 fighters who accompanied the American MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, presented the pilots of Su-27 aircraft for awarding state awards, who prevented the violation by the American unmanned aerial vehicle MQ-9 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," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The ministry noted that the boundaries of the area were brought to all users of international airspace and published in accordance with international standards.
On March 14, the European Command of the US Armed Forces reported that the American MQ-9 Reaper drone fell into the Black Sea after it was hit by a Russian Su-27 fighter.
The Russian military said on Tuesday that the Russian fighter jets did not use weapons against the American drone over the Black Sea, it fell by itself as a result of sharp maneuvering.
"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 statement said.
On Wednesday, March 15, the defense ministers of the Russian Federation and the United States, at the initiative of the American side, discussed the situation in detail, "the main attention was paid to the exchange of views on the causes and consequences of the incident," the Russian Defense Ministry informed.
"Sergei Shoigu pointed out that the cause of the incident was the actions of the United States for non-compliance with the flight restriction zone declared by the Russian Federation, established in connection with a special military operation, as well as increased intelligence activities against the interests of the Russian Federation," the military department noted.
