US says Russian warplane hits American drone over Black Sea

KYIV, Ukraine - A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday in a ''brazen violation of international law,'' causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle, the U.S. said.

But Russia insisted its warplanes didn't hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Instead, it said the drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into the water following an encounter with Russian fighter jets that had been scrambled to intercept it near Crimea.

The incident, which added to Russia-U.S. tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, appeared to be the first time since the height of the Cold War that a U.S. aircraft was brought down after an encounter with a Russian warplane.

https://www.startribune.com/us-says-russian-warplane-hits-american-drone-over-black-sea/600258649/