On March 15, an online meeting in the Rammstein format began. And on the threshold, Russia shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea. This is an unexpected and somewhat thoughtless step by the Russians, which may increase support for Ukraine in some areas.

Political scientist Oleg Sahakyan told Channel 24 about this. According to him, one still needs to think of shooting down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone before the meeting in the Rammstein format. So it turns out that Russia really accidentally tried to increase support for Ukraine from international partners.

Why did Russia shoot down an American drone

As Sahakyan emphasized, Russia has long been using a model of aggressive behavior, which is part of their culture. Putin is accustomed to raising the stakes and acts according to the principles “to be afraid means to be respected; to hit means to love.”

It was an attempt to demonstrate to their society, the West and other countries watching the war that they are capable of hitting the teeth of the United States. But the way they used is very ambiguous.

How did they shoot down the drone? Rocket? No. Did they plant him, intercepting the signal? No. Dumped fuel and cut, risking their plane to say it wasn't an attack. And it's not really them at all. This is a maneuver. And everything else. Make it so that you can move out and refuse responsibility,” said Sahakyan.

Ukraine will try to make the most of this situation

Sahakyan believes that the United States will not react harshly or symmetrically to this situation. They will simply quietly strengthen certain of the lines of assistance for Ukraine, which they thought to do less.

It should not be taken that after this incident, the States will significantly increase assistance to Ukraine. But this will definitely affect the psychological context at Ramstein – the allies will be more decisive in the issue of assistance.

This will be an argument in the hands of the (Ukrainian – Channel 24) delegation. That the Russians upped the ante; this beat is unmissable. Therefore, you need to symbolically demonstrate and show Russia with your finger that you will do it again – we will shoot down the plane. And now let's add one more zero to the selected shells. There will be some positive results. Ukraine will try to make the most of this situation,” Sahakyan said.

Russia shot down an American drone over the Black Sea: briefly

• On the evening of March 14, Russia shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea. Su-27 invaders poured fuel onto the UAV, and then cut it off.
• The White House emphasized that the loss of the MQ-9 Reaper was dangerous and unprofessional. US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident.
• The speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuri Ignat, stressed that this incident is the result of the actions of a terrorist state that calls itself Russia.