‘Rapid Response Measures’: Russia’s Ominous Warning on US Spy Drones in the Black Sea
Russia’s defense ministry has issued a veiled threat regarding United States drones patrolling the Black Sea.
Knewz.com has learned that the defense ministry threatened to employ “rapid response measures” to curtail the chances of incidents between Russian and American air assets.
The Global Hawk drone that disappeared off the radar during a patrol of the Black Sea. By: U.S. Air Force
The Telegram update by the Russian Ministry of Defense reads:
“The Russian Defence Ministry noted the increased intensity of U.S. strategic unmanned aerial vehicles over the Black Sea waters, which are conducting reconnaissance and targeting high-precision weapons supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Western states to launch strikes at Russian facilities.”
“This demonstrates the increasing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime.”
The update claimed that the U.S. UAV operations in the area were likely to lead to an altercation.
“Such flights increase the possibility of air incidents involving the Russian Aerospace Forces' aircraft, increasing the risk of a direct confrontation between the alliance and the Russian Federation.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense issued the statement on Telegram. By: Telegram/Russia's Defense Ministry.
It noted that should an altercation transpire, NATO would be to blame for it, and went on to say:
“The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Andrei Belousov, has instructed the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces to make proposals on measures for rapid response to provocations.”
This development follows a previous article by Knewz.com citing a report by flight-tracking resource, FlightRadar24, which suggested a US RQ-4B Global Hawk drone disappeared while patrolling the Black Sea.
The article stated: “Notably, if said transponder were to be switched off over the Black Sea, FlightRadar24 would have lost track of the UAV. It is also worth noting that transponders stop transmitting due to technical failure or when they are intentionally turned off on military aircraft.”
John Kirby stated that the area of the Black Sea patrolled by U.S. drones is international territory. By: MEGA
Neither Russia nor U.S. officials commented on the anomaly following FlightRadar24’s claims.
On March 24, 2023, a Russian fighter jet was caught harassing an MQ-9 reaper drone. The images from the said drone were later released by the Pentagon and depicted the Su-27 fighter jet making numerous passes close to the unmanned aircraft.
On one of these passes, the jet nicks its propeller causing it to crash into the Black Sea.
Russia responded to the incident by denying that its aircraft was responsible and blamed the drone for making “a sharp maneuver.”
It further claimed that “the U.S. drone went into uncontrollable flight with a loss of altitude.”
The Russian Su27 fighter jet buzzing the MQ-9 Reaper drone while dumping fuel. YouTube/USEUCOM
According to NBC News, U.S. officials dubbed the action a “brazen violation of international law,” and summoned the Russian ambassador to voice their displeasure.
While this was transpiring stateside, the U.S. ambassador to Russia also faced the indignation of Putin’s henchmen.
The U.S. was not put off by the incident and White House press liaison, John Kirby, telegraphed this sentiment saying that America would continue its drone patrols in the region.