Russia preparing ‘response’ to US Black Sea drone flights, says defence ministry

The Russian defence ministry noted a recent ‘increased intensity’ of US drones over the Black Sea (Massoud Hossaini/AP)

Russia’s defence minister has ordered officials to prepare a “response” to US drone flights over the Black Sea, the ministry said, in an apparent warning that Moscow may take forceful action to ward off the American reconnaissance aircraft.

The Russian defence ministry noted a recent “increased intensity” of US drones over the Black Sea, saying they “conduct intelligence and targeting for precision weapons supplied to the Ukrainian military by western countries for strikes on Russian facilities”.