A Russian Air Force jet fighter was responsible for shooting down a Georgian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in April, according to a report issued by the United Nations on May 26^th.

The shoot-down took place over the breakaway region, Abkhazia, after which, said the report, the jet returned to Russian airspace.

Mig 29

Previously, Russia has denied claims of it having been involved in the shoot-down, despite Georgia having released stark video footage showing an aircraft resembling a Russian-built Mig 29 jet fighter launching a missile at the drone.

Tensions concerning Abkhazia have heightened in recent times, with both Russia and Georgia having said the other is amassing military resources. As far as Moscow is concerned, Georgia is planning to carry out an invasion, while Georgia believes Russia is set to incorporate Abkhazia into its own territory.

Following the UAV shoot-down – which occurred on April 20^th – Georgia claimed that Moscow had carried out “an act of international aggression.”

Georgia Video Footage

The video footage, said Georgia, was captured by the UAV. It showed a jet fighter flying towards it, then launching a missile – the missile’s path taking it straight towards the camera before the picture went.

A spokesman for the Russian Air Force described Georgia’s accusation as “nonsense”. Additionally, Abkhazian rebels subsequently said they were responsible for the act, more recently adding that they had carried out further attacks.

Russian Airspace

However, according to the new UN report, radar records highlighted how the aircraft used to shoot the UAV down returned to the airspace over Russia and, thus, "...this leads to the conclusion that the aircraft belonged to the Russian air force."

The UN’s assertions have been rejected by Russia.

Abkhaz War Ceasefire

The same report, however, also lambasted Georgia for having had the UAV over Abkhazia at all – the flight violating the ceasefire terms agreed to end the Abkhaz war around 15 years ago.

The UN report was released on Monday 26^th. Also on Monday, Dmitry Medvedev, the recently-inducted Russian President, sent a message to Georgia as it marked its independence day.

"I sincerely wish peace and prosperity to the Georgian people, with which we have century-old ties of friendship and spiritual kinship", he said.  

Source – Armed Forces International’s East European Correspondent

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