Tensions Flare as U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone Downed in Black Sea Incident Near Ukraine

"An MQ-9 “Reaper” intelligence and surveillance drone of the United States was downed after an encounter with a Russian Su-27 fighter over the Black Sea, prompting a strong response from the U.S. and adding fuel to an already tense situation in the region. This incident comes amid heightened surveillance and reconnaissance activities near Ukraine, underscoring the potential for military miscalculations. Russian defense ministry statements claiming that the MQ-9 drone had been flying towards Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and encroaching upon territories Russia considers its own." MS