The Russian Defense Minister informed his US counterpart on Wednesday that the "increased" US intelligence activity against Russia led to the march incident, Moscow announced.

The United States accused Russia of causing the crash of a reconnaissance drone in the Black Sea, after it collided with a Russian Su-27 fighter.

The incident is the first of its kind between Moscow and Washington since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

On Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, that "increased intelligence activity against the interests of the Russian Federation," in addition to "non-compliance with the no-fly zone" announced by Moscow, led to the incident with an American march, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

The Russian Defense Ministry warned that it would respond "proportionately" to any future US "provocation".

"The flight of US strategic unmanned aircraft off the coast of Crimea is of a provocative nature, which prepares the atmosphere for an escalation of the situation in the Black Sea region," a statement from the Ministry of Defense said.

The ministry noted that Russia "will continue to respond proportionately to all provocations."

Russia denies that it deliberately caused the crash of the American march.