According to U.S. officials, Russian leadership approved aggressive actions by jets that damaged a U.S. drone

In a tense escalation of international tensions, U.S. officials have accused Russian leadership of approving aggressive actions by Russian fighter jets that resulted in damage to an American drone.

According to sources within the U.S. government, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, when a U.S. reconnaissance drone was conducting routine operations over the Black Sea. Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets, which performed multiple aggressive maneuvers to intimidate the U.S. aircraft suddenly intercepted the drone

During the encounter, one of the Russian jets reportedly came within 20 feet of the American drone, causing the unmanned aircraft to take evasive maneuvers. In the process, the drone sustained minor damage, though it could return safely to its base.

U.S. officials have condemned the Russian actions as dangerous and provocative, and have called on the Russian government to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The behavior of the Russian pilots was reckless and unprofessional, and put the safety of our personnel at risk,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense. “We call on the Russian government to take immediate steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, and to ensure that its military personnel operate in a safe and responsible manner.”

For its part, the Russian government has denied any wrongdoing, and has accused the U.S. of carrying out provocative actions in the region.

“Russian military aircraft conduct their operations in strict accordance with international law and established protocols,” said a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense. “We view the U.S. military’s presence in the Black Sea region as a provocation, and we will take all necessary steps to protect our national security interests.”

The incident is the latest in a series of tense encounters between U.S. and Russian military forces in recent years, as both countries seek to assert their influence and protect their interests in the increasingly strategic Black Sea region.

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Source: Omanghana.com/SP