From a downed US drone to intense fighting in Bakhmut: Here's what to know to get up to speed
United States officials say they likely will not be able to retrieve a drone forced down by Russian jets in the Black Sea. The incident is part of a pattern of “aggressive, risky and unsafe" behavior from Russia, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the incident is under investigation and that the US is in "close coordination" with allies.
Here's everything to know to get up to speed:
What to know about the drone intercept: While flying in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 jet dumped fuel on a US MQ-9 Reaper drone several times, US military and defense officials said. One of the Russian jets then hit the drone, damaging it and forcing US officials to crash it into the water, Austin said.
Recovery efforts: The US Air Force primarily uses the MQ-9 drone to collect intelligence, according to the service's website. The aircraft will likely not be recovered by the US, but sensitive software on the drone was remotely erased before it crashed to prevent Russia from collecting secret information, according to two US officials. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said the drone fell into very deep water and the Navy does not have any vessels in the area, making recovery efforts difficult. He said the US will work with allies in the area to try to get it out. Russian officials have said they will also try to get to the wreckage in order to study it.
Russian response: The Kremlin said relations between Russia and the US are at their “lowest point” and in a “deplorable state,” following the drone's downing. Moscow pushed back, denying its fighter jets came "into contact" with the US drone. Milley said that US officials have "absolute evidence" that the two aircraft came into contact, but said they are not sure if it was intentional. Milley, however, did reiterate that "the aggressive behavior was intentional." Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said he denied all accusations against Russia after being summoned to the State Department.
Here are the other key headlines from the war:
Battle in Bakhmut: In a city still seeing intense fighting, Austin applauded the "valor" and the "persistence" of the Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Bakhmut. Less than 3,000 people — including 33 children — remain in the embattled city, according to the Donetsk regional military administration. A soldier from Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade destroyed a Russian jet over Bakhmut Wednesday, according to a commander.
Why this matters: President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a Russian capture of Bakhmut would give them an “open road” to capturing other key Ukrainian cities in the east. Milley said that any decision on whether Ukrainian forces should remain in the eastern city or be repositioned would be made by Zelensky.
Russian movement: Russia is making “small tactical advances” around the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, but “at great cost,” Milley said. Meantime, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said his fighters have captured a small settlement north of Bakhmut earlier on Wednesday. Prigozhin also acknowledged that a small number of Afghan fighters are working with the private military company.
