Russia Confers State Awards To Fighter Pilots Who Knocked Out A US Drone
NDTV
Russia's defense ministry said it had decorated pilots involved in an incident this week that led to an American drone crashing over the Black Sea.
Russia's Ministry of Defense has said that it has awarded Su-27 pilots who destroyed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone this week, causing it to crash into the Black Sea. The Putin government took this decision despite criticism from Western officials, who called the action "unsafe and unprofessional."
"Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu presented state awards to the Su-27 pilots who prevented an American MQ-9 drone from violating (Russia's) temporary airspace," the ministry said.
Washington released footage Thursday of what it said showed Russian military jets bearing down on the drone, but Moscow maintains the aircraft was downed after it lost control.
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