This is a clear sign that Russia will keep downing the American drones,
pro-Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov wrote in a commentary on the award announcement
Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu presented state awards to the Su-27 pilots who prevented an American MQ-9 drone from violating (Russia's) temporary airspace,
the ministry said
As a result of sharp manoeuvring around 9:30 a.m. (Moscow time), the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface,
the statement was quoted by Reuters in its report
This decision will receive a strong support from the Russian society that wants the government to toughen its policy,
Markov wrote in a commentary
The drone flew with its transponders off, violating the boundaries of the area of the temporary airspace usage regime established for the special military operation [and] communicated to all users of international airspace,
Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement, according to The Moscow Times