NEW YORK, March 15. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov held a constructive conversation at the US Department of State following an incident involving a US MQ-9 drone in the Black Sea, as the envoy himself told CNN.
"It seems to me that it was a constructive conversation on this issue. I have heard her remarks, I hope that she has understood what I have mentioned," Antonov said in response to a CNN question following a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried.
According to CNN, Antonov also stressed that the incident had occurred in the special military operation zone. "We have warned not to enter, not to penetrate," the Russian envoy added.
Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Russian Aerospace Forces’ control means had detected a US MQ-9 aerial vehicle near the Crimean Peninsula. According to the ministry, the drone, which was flying with its transponders turned off, "violated the boundaries of an area where a temporary mode for using the airspace is in place for the special military operation, which was brought to the attention of all international airspace users and made public in accordance with international rules." The Russian Defense Ministry added that the drone’s sharp maneuvering led it into uncontrolled flight, making it lose altitude and crash into the sea. Russian fighter jets did not use airborne weapons or make contact with the aerial vehicle, and they safely returned to their home airfield, the ministry said. According to the United States European Command, a Russian Su-27 aircraft damaged the US drone’s propeller, causing it to crash into the Black Sea.