The Russian defence minister informed the Pentagon chief on Wednesday that Washington’s “elevated” intelligence gathering in opposition to Russia had led to a drone incident, Moscow mentioned.
Watch: Putin warns Biden for ‘spying’ on Russia with MQ-9 Reaper drone | U.S. says, ‘Will fly…’
The US on Tuesday accused Russia of forcing down one in all its Reaper surveillance drones over the Black Sea by a collision with a Russian Su-27 warplane.
Russia denies that it intentionally introduced the drone down.
Additionally learn: US drone and Russia jet crash: What we all know up to now
It was the primary such incident between Moscow and Washington since President Vladimir Putin despatched troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin that “elevated intelligence actions in opposition to the pursuits of the Russian Federation” and “non-compliance with the restricted flight zone” declared by Moscow on account of its marketing campaign in Ukraine had led to the incident, the defence ministry mentioned in an announcement.
The ministry in Moscow additionally warned that it will react “proportionately” to any future US “provocations”.
“Flights of American strategic unmanned aerial automobiles off the coast of Crimea are provocative in nature, which creates pre-conditions for an escalation of the scenario within the Black Sea zone,” the ministry mentioned.
Additionally learn: British defence minister says Russia ought to respect worldwide airspace
“Russia is just not excited about such a improvement of occasions, however it’ll proceed to reply proportionately to all provocations.”
Individually, the Russian navy’s chief of the Basic Workers Valery Gerasimov spoke to Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Workers, the defence ministry mentioned in a separate assertion.
No particulars have been instantly offered.