The administration of US President Joe Biden on Thursday released video footage showing a Russian fighter jet dumping fuel on a US Air Force surveillance drone.
The release came as the US sought to hold Russia responsible for a collision that led to the drone’s crash into the Black Sea without escalating fraught tensions with the Kremlin.
The US military declassified a 42-second color video showing a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 Reaper drone and releasing fuel as it passes, the Pentagon said.
Photo: AFP / USEUCOM
Dumping the fuel appeared to be aimed at blinding the drone’s optical instruments to drive it from the area.
On a second approach, either the same jet or another Russian Su-27 that had been shadowing the MQ-9 struck the drone’s propeller, damaging a blade, the US military said, adding that it then ditched the aircraft in the sea.
The video excerpt does not show the collision, although it does show the damage to the propeller.
Photo: REUTERS
Russia said its fighters did not strike the drone and claimed the uncrewed aerial vehicle went down after making a sharp maneuver.
While calling out Russia for “reckless” action, the White House tried to strike a balance to avoid exacerbating tensions.
US officials said they have not been able to determine whether the Russian pilot intentionally struck the drone, adding that lines of communication with Moscow remain open.
“I can’t point to that video and say this is a deliberate attempt to escalate or ... tangibly bring about [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s false claim that this is about the West versus Russia,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “We have made clear on many occasions, we do not seek a conflict with Russia.”
Putin has said that by providing weapons to Ukraine and sharing intelligence with Kyiv, the US and its allies have effectively become engaged in the Ukraine war.
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday said that an attempt would be made to recover the drone’s debris.
US officials have expressed confidence that nothing of military value would remain from the drone even if Russia retrieved the wreckage.
They left open the possibility of trying to recover part of the downed US$32 million aircraft, which they said crashed into waters that were up to to 1,500m deep, although the US does not have any ships in the area.
Russia and NATO member countries routinely intercept each other’s warplanes, but Tuesday’s incident marked the first time since the Cold War that a US aircraft went down during such a confrontation, raising concerns it could bring Moscow and Washington closer to a direct conflict.
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