Russian defence minister decorates pilots for downing U.S. drone

FILE PHOTO: A view of a damaged prop of U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft, also known as a "Reaper" drone, following an impact by a Russian Su-27 military aircraft over the Black Sea, March 14, 2023 in this still image taken from handout video released by the Pentagon. Courtesy of U.S. European Command/The Pentagon/Handout via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has presented awards to the pilots of two Su-27 fighter planes that intercepted a U.S. drone near the airspace around Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, his ministry said on Friday.

The drone crashed into the Black Sea on Tuesday after being intercepted by Russian jets, in the first known direct military encounter between Russia and the United States since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago.