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Crimea slams approach of American drone to peninsula ‘yet another provocation’

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Aerospace Forces’ air space control capabilities spotted a US MQ-9 drone near the Crimean Peninsula on the morning of March 14

SIMFEROPOL, March 15. /TASS/. The approach of the American MQ-9 drone to Crimea with its transponders switched off is yet another evident provocation, such attempts should be harshly suppressed, a member of the Federation Council from Crimea, Olga Kovitidi, said.

"The approach of an American MQ-9 drone to our state’s borders, to Crimea, with its transponders switched off, which is a violation of the temporary regime for the airspace, is yet another provocation. I am sure that any attempts to violate Russia’s state borders should be harshly suppressed," the senator told TASS on Wednesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Aerospace Forces’ air space control capabilities spotted a US MQ-9 drone near the Crimean Peninsula on the morning of March 14. As the ministry specified, the American drone flew with its transponders switched off "violating the borders of the area covered by the temporary regime for the airspace use established for the purposes of the special military operation." According to servicemen, Russian fighter jets did not employ their onboard armaments, the drone went into an uncontrolled flight as a result of an abrupt maneuver, lost its altitude and crashed into the water.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a modular reconnaissance and strike drone engineered by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The drone is outfitted with a turboprop engine enabling it to accelerate to over 400 km/h. It features flight endurance of 24 hours.

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