Russia’s Defense Minister, Andrei Belousov, has instructed the army’s General Staff to formulate recommendations aimed at swiftly addressing what the defense ministry has described as “provocations” by US strategic drones operating over the Black Sea. The ministry issued a statement on Friday highlighting increased activity in the region by US drones, which it claims are conducting reconnaissance and gathering targeting data for high-precision Western weapons used by Ukraine against Russian installations.
According to the defense ministry, this heightened drone activity signifies growing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine, aligning with the Kyiv regime. The ministry expressed concerns that such flights could escalate airspace incidents involving Russian aircraft, thereby elevating the risk of direct confrontation between NATO and Russia.
“While not explicitly mentioning Crimea, the region annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014, the statement underscores ongoing security challenges faced by Russian military installations in Crimea, which have reportedly been targeted by Ukrainian forces using Western missiles,” the ministry noted.
The statement emphasized that NATO member states would bear responsibility for any potential incidents arising from these operations. It did not specify the nature of proposed measures the General Staff would develop to address these concerns.
The situation highlights continuing tensions in the Black Sea region, where geopolitical interests intersect amid ongoing military activities. Russia’s response underscores its commitment to safeguarding its interests in the face of perceived external threats, while advocating for restraint to prevent further escalation in the region.
