US is "looking closely" at drone activity, according to CNN

The US is weighing the benefits and risks of drone flights over the Black Sea after losing an unmanned aircraft there while being chased by Russian interceptors. On Tuesday, Washington claimed that two Russian Su-27 fighters dumped fuel on a MQ-9 Reaper drone conducting a reconnaissance flight in the area, with one jet later colliding with the US aircraft. Moscow's Ministry of Defense dismissed the accusation, insisting that its interceptors had neither come into contact with the Reaper nor fired a weapon. Several officials have told CNN that the US is now "weighing the costs and benefits" of further drone operations, and another Reaper was sent to monitor Russian forces searching for the debris. The US is concerned that curbing drone activities could adversely affect intelligence gathering related to the Ukraine conflict, but the US could still rely on other assets such as satellites. The US has significantly ramped up intelligence operations close to Russian borders, seeking to provide Ukraine with valuable data.