collided implies it was accidental, so i guess it was accidental. according to the bbc.

but this part made me crack up:

  > Several times before the collision the Su-27 fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone in a "reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner".

The Unites States Military -- Environmental Defenders!

not sure why russians were so intimidated by a little toy drone....w-w-wait whuhhht?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18006/the-usaf-expands...