US State Dept says Black Sea drone incident likely unintentional from Russia
A U.S. military surveillance drone's crash into the Black Sea after being intercepted by Russian jets was likely an unintentional act from Russia's side, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told MSNBC on Wednesday.
I think it is highly competent to take down a drone (which provides eyes and ears) and there is no loss of life. The phrase "surgical precision" comes to mind. This is much better than blowing up children in the Middle East because a tall adult was standing next to a group of children.
Yes I agree. It showed some tricksy flying skills too.
I believe the Russians took it down, because they are sick of the USA interfering. That thing was flying towards Sevastopol and was only 60 miles away - from their biggest warm water naval base. So, much as they are making it out to be an "oopsie, we farded on your drone, and it fell into the sea, but we did not use arsenals" - all true but it is hiding intention - I don't think it is was an oopsie.
Also, I think the USA is making it out as incompetence, to stress that it was an accident. This is to walk back comments from Lindsey Graham to "shoot Russian pilots out of the sky in retaliation".
All in all, there are some military diplomacy efforts between USA and Russia on display, which may be a good sign.