London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, May 23, 2025

Russia blames drone incident on US spying, vows to react ‘proportionately’ in future

Russia blames drone incident on US spying, vows to react ‘proportionately’ in future

Russia’s defense ministry declared on Wednesday that it will respond “proportionately” to any future “provocations” by the US amid escalating tensions following the drone crash incident. The Russian defense minister blamed the incident on increased US intelligence gathering operations.
“Strategic US drone flights off the coast of Crimea are provocative in nature, which creates pre-conditions for an escalation of the situation in the Black Sea area,” state news agency TASS reported. It added: “Russia is not interested in such a development of events, but it will continue to respond proportionately to all provocations.”

A US military surveillance drone (MQ-9 Reaper) crashed into the Black Sea on Tuesday after an encounter with Russian Su-27 fighter jets in international airspace. This was the first such incident between Washington and Moscow since the latter launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The US and Russian offered different versions of events, diverging over the cause of the drone’s crash. The US maintains that one of the Russian Su-27 jets clipped the propeller of the drone which led to the crash. Russia denies any physical contact between its jets and the drone and says the drone’s “sharp maneuvering” caused the crash.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held on Wednesday a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu to discuss the drone incident, the first such top-level contact between the two in over five months. The Pentagon said Austin discussed the “unprofessional, dangerous, and reckless behavior” of Russian pilots in international space and stressed that the US “will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows.”

At the other end of that call, Shoigu blamed US “increased intelligence activities against the interests of the Russian Federation” and the “non-compliance with the restricted flight zone” as the reasons for the drone incident, TASS reported.

Moscow’s diplomats had warned US officials against violating its territorial waters and airspace. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the US was “ignoring” the fact that Russia had established airspace restrictions in the Black Sea region after it launched its war on Ukraine.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
UK Justice Secretary Advocates for Good Conduct Release Policies to Alleviate Prison Overcrowding
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
UK Transfers Chagos Islands Sovereignty to Mauritius in Strategic Agreement
Bitcoin Surpasses $111,000 Mark for the First Time
Key Developments in UK Business and Economy
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Leaked Secret Report: How the Muslim Brotherhood Is Expanding in France—With Qatari Funding
BYD Surpasses Tesla in European Electric Vehicle Sales
West Nile Virus Detected in UK Mosquitoes for First Time
UK Exposes Russian Cyber Campaign Targeting Ukraine Aid Networks
UK Inflation Rises to 3.5% in April Amid Household Bill Increases
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Taiwan claims China is using cash to win over developing nations
European Parliament Suspends Huawei Lobbyists Amid Corruption Probe
Industry Leaders Express Skepticism Over EU's New Single Market Strategy
European Parliament Considers Lifting Immunity of Five MEPs in Huawei Investigation
‘Plane Full of English Animals’: Footage Documents EasyJet Flight Chaos to Ibiza
Trump and Ramaphosa Hold Contentious White House Meeting Amid Diplomatic Strains
US Billionaires' Wealth Surges by $365 Billion Amid Tax Cut Debate
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces Federal Trial on Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Charges
India Blocks Thousands of Social Media Accounts Amid Tensions with Pakistan
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Ontario Manufacturers Warn U.S. Tariffs Could Create Economic 'Ghost Town'
UK and EU Reach Landmark Post-Brexit Deal to Reset Relations
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
Trump Demands Probe into Kamala Harris for Paying Celebs to Fake Endorsements
At Age 92, the World’s Oldest President Has No Succession Plan — and That Could Spark a Crisis
U.S. Concerns Mount Over Chinese 'Kill Switch' Components Found in Solar Power Infrastructure
Bipartisan Criticism Surrounds Trump's Cryptocurrency Ventures
Diplomatic Efforts on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Mexican Navy Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge, Injuries Reported
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
U.S. and Philippine Forces Test High-Powered Microwave Weapons in Joint Exercise
China Unveils Advanced AI Surveillance Tools at 12th Police Equipment Expo
Japan's Three Major Banks Report Record High Net Profits for Second Consecutive Year
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
US and EU Make Progress in Trade Talks, While Vietnam Negotiations Also Advance
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial: Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Ventura Testifies About Alleged Abuse
Former Wales Rugby Star Jamie Roberts to Pursue Medical Career
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
Passenger Travels Under Wrong Identity on British Airways Flight
Former FBI Director James Comey Questioned by Secret Service Over Social Media Post
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
After 108 Years: Moody’s Downgrades U.S. Credit Rating
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
×