A Russian fighter jet crashed into a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea. Images from drone cameras show the terrifying confrontation when a Su-27 aircraft approaches from behindcuts off its propeller and dumps fuel on it in international airspace.

US forces had to shoot down the $32 million surveillance drone in international waters after the game, leading to a race between Moscow and Washington to win it back.

Russian ships were seen at the crash site on Wednesday trying to find the debrisafter what the Pentagon insisted that the pieces could not be recovered and that all information had been erased.

The dramatic 42-second video released by the Pentagon follows Russian claims that the plane failed to make contact with the drone.but instead claims the drone only crashed after a “sharp maneuver”.

Moscow also said it would work recover the remains in what would be a propaganda coup for Vladimir Putinafter previously warning that “it will view any action involving US weapons as openly hostile”.

This is the first direct confrontation between Russia and the US since the start of the war in Ukraine, and it comes hours after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to his Russian counterpart, calling the meeting “provocative in nature” and saying it could potentially make the situation worse. around the Black Sea.

Recently released video shared today shows that the unmanned drone came into contact with a Russian aircraft after flying “in the vicinity” of the aircraft for 30 to 40 minutes just after 7 am. The time-lapse video, edited by the US military, shows one of two Russian aircraft flying over international waters stops on the drone and approaches from behind.

The jet is shown spewing fuel as it flies by. Airplanes often use fuel in emergency situations to lose weight. The drone’s camera is damaged before it is forced to make an emergency landing in international waters.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby criticized Russia’s actions as reckless and dangerous. But Russia’s Defense Ministry responded, saying in a statement: “The Russian fighters did not use air weapons and did not interact with the US drone.”

Kirby said on Tuesday that the State Department “concerned about this unsafe and unprofessional interception” with their Russian counterparts.

The United States maintains its position that Russia deliberately collided with the drone., as appears to be the case in the released video.