March 15, 2023 Russia-Ukraine news

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that he applauds the "valor" and the "persistence" of the Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Bakhmut.

"They have done amazing ... I think the Russians have been working to take Bakhmut for some seven months or so now and they haven't been very successful – and that's because of the diligence, the commitment, the focus of the Ukrainian soldiers," Austin said.

He added that any decision on whether Ukrainian forces should remain in the eastern city or be repositioned would be made by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was asked Wednesday about comments by potential presidential candidates that support for Ukraine should not be a priority and if he was concerned that election rhetoric could undermine American support for Ukraine going forward.

Austin said that he's seen "bipartisan support" for providing security assistance to Ukraine throughout the conflict "up to this point."

"I expect that we will continue to see that going forward. We've heard some senior leaders on both sides of the fence say that, and so I expect that will continue," Austin said.

He noted that countries from around the world "continue to come back" to meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

"They continue to come back and they continue to work hard to ensure that Ukraine gets everything that it needs to be successful. And that will remain our focus," he said.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said the United States does not know if the Russian fighter jet intentionally hit the American drone over the Black Sea.

This is something officials are looking into, he said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that he has a call scheduled with his Russian counterpart to discuss that point, among other things.

"We know that the intercept was intentional, we know that the aggressive behavior was intentional, we also know it was very unprofessional and very unsafe," Milley said.

As for the physical contact between the jet and drone "that remains to be seen."

However, Milley said the US has "absolute evidence of the contact and the intercept."

US officials have said two Russian jets dumped fuel on the US MQ-9 drone Tuesday in international airspace. Then, one jet "struck our MQ-9 aircraft, resulting in a crash," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

Russia has denied that it had direct contact with the drone.

Russia is “running out of capability” after invading Ukraine more than a year ago, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. 

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin has “now had a year's worth of proof that the United States and the Contact Group will support Ukraine's right to defend itself for the long haul.”

“But Putin still hopes that he can wear down Ukraine and wait us out,” he added. “So we can't let up, and we won't.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday he had spoken on the phone with his Russian counterpart Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu following an altercation that forced a US drone to crash in the Black Sea.

He did not disclose any details about the conversation.

Austin said two Russian jets dumped fuel on the US MQ-9 drone that was "conducting routine operations" Tuesday in international airspace. Then, one jet "struck our MQ-9 aircraft, resulting in a crash." Russia has denied that it had direct contact with the drone.

Russian aircraft engaged in "dangerous and reckless and unprofessional behavior in the international airspace over the Black Sea," the secretary said.

The incident is part of a pattern of “aggressive, risky and unsafe" behavior from Russia, Austin added.

Ukrainian forces have shot down a Russian military plane near the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut, said Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office.

Yermak posted a video on Telegram Wednesday that appears to show the downing of the plane.

CNN is unable to independently verify Yermak's claim. Ukraine's national news agency Ukrinform is also reporting the incident, quoting Yermak. 

In the video, a white parachute is seen, suggesting the pilot was able to eject. 

The Ukrainian military has shot down at least 304 Russian aircraft since the start of the war on February 24, 2022, to March 15, 2023, according to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. CNN is unable to independently verify this number. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Russia’s downing of a US drone over the Black Sea “is being investigated.”

Speaking at a news conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Blinken declined to speak to the motive or intent behind the incident, saying he would let the investigation proceed.

“What I can say very clearly is this was a reckless and unsafe action,” Blinken said.

Blinken said the US is “in close coordination” with allies and partners on the matter.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said his fighters have captured a small settlement north of Bakhmut earlier on Wednesday.

In an audio message published on his media Telegram channel, Prigozhin claims Wagner fighters have captured the settlement of Zaliznianske, located about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) north of the embattled city.

"In the absence of ammunition, amid a projectile famine, in the hardest battles, the assault troops are widening the encirclement of Bakhmut. Zaliznianske settlement was taken by Wagner PMC assault troops this morning," he said.

CNN is unable to independently verify his claims.

In his message, Prigozhin again highlights what he calls "a projectile famine," alluding to tensions with Russia's Defense Ministry.

Prigozhin has frequently complained that his fighters are not receiving enough ammunition while doing the bulk of the fighting around Bakhmut.

The top US general is expected to speak with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday, a US defense official tells CNN, one day after a Russian jet collided with a US drone over the Black Sea in international airspace.

Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley is expected to speak with the Chief of Russian General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by telephone on Wednesday, after the US and Russia put out different accounts of the incident over the Black Sea.

The two military leaders have not spoken since late December.    

More on this: It is unclear whether Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also speak with his Russian counterpart, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Such conversations often happen in tandem, with the top generals holding a conversation after the defense secretary and defense minister have spoken.