Officials in Georgia have released footage that appears to show a Russian Air Force Mig 29 fighter launching a missile at a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) over the region of Abkhazia.

Speaking to news agency Reuters, a Russian Air Force spokesman dismissed the claim as "nonsense".

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has expressed his concern over the UAV's presence in a "conflict zone".

Putin contacted Mikhail Saakashvili, his Georgian equivalent, on the matter - Saakashvili subsequently stating during televised comments that he had "categorically demanded [of Putin]... that these aggressive attacks on Georgia be stopped immediately."

Video Footage

The video footage depicts a Russian Air Force combat jet firing a missile straight at the drone, Georgia told Reuters, adding that the incident took place over Abkhazia.

"On April 20 a Russian Mig-29 fighter jet shot down an unarmed, unmanned air vehicle which was performing basic reconnaissance over Georgian territory," air force commander, Colonel David Nairashvili, told the US news agency.

He continued: "It's absolutely illegal for a Russian Mig-29 to be there ... The Mig-29 has a distinctive twin-tail marking. It's a Russian aircraft. Georgia does not possess it, nor do Abkhaz separatists."

Mr Putin, according to the Kremlin, looked upon the UAV's presence as a "destabilising factor, escalating tension."

"During an examination of the incident with the Georgian unmanned plane, Vladimir Putin expressed his perplexity over the fact that the Georgian side is organising military flights over a conflict zone", the Kremlin added.

A spokesman for the Russian Air Force, meanwhile, asked: "What would a Russian jet fighter be doing over Georgian territory?"

The US is understood to be concerned by reports of the shoot-down, and has requested more details from Russia.

Armed Forces International will provide further coverage of this incident, and any potential repercussions, as more facts become known.

Source - Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert

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