This morning, two Russian Su-27 aircraft engaged in a dangerous and unprofessional interception of a U.S. MQ-9 reconnaissance UAV over the Black Sea. One of the Su-27s collided with the MQ-9's propeller, forcing U.S. forces to sink the MQ-9 in international waters. Prior to the collision, the Su-27s had flown recklessly and dangerously close to the MQ-9, and had dumped fuel in an environmentally hazardous manner. This incident highlights the incompetence and unprofessionalism of the Russian side, and could have resulted in the crash of both aircraft and an unintended escalation of the situation. The MQ-9 was conducting routine operations in international airspace.

The United States is calling for the Russian ambassador to the State Department in response to the incident involving a US drone over the Black Sea, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price.