EXPLAINED | What happened to the U.S. drone downed near Ukraine?

Russia and the United States have offered different accounts of the downing of a U.S. intelligence drone in the Black Sea

Russia and the United States have offered different accounts of the downing of a U.S. intelligence drone in the Black Sea.

The United States announced on March 14 that one of its MQ-9 "Reaper" intelligence and surveillance drones had been struck by a Russian Su-27 fighter. According to the U.S. Department of Defence, the Russian fighter hit the drone's propeller forcing U.S. forces to bring the drone down.

"Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on, and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner," James B. Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said.

"This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional," Mr. Hecker said.

The United States said the drone was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by the Russian aircraft.

Russia said the MQ-9 drone was flying near Crimea — which Russia annexed in 2014 — and heading towards territories which Russia considers its own.

"As a result of sharp manoeuvring around 9.30 Moscow time, the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into an uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water," Russia's Defence Ministry said.