Russia Claims It Blocked Plot To Hijack MiG-31 In Secret Ukraine–UK Operation
Russia ’s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) has announced that it has prevented what it describes as a high-level intelligence operation involving Ukraine and the United Kingdom. According to Russian state media reports on Tuesday, spies allegedly attempted to persuade Russian pilots to defect with a MiG-31 fighter jet fitted with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile in exchange for $3 million.
The plan, the FSB claims, was to fly the jet towards a NATO military base in Constanta, Romania, where the aircraft could then have been intercepted and destroyed by European air defences. The agency describes it as a “large-scale provocation”, reportedly aimed at drawing Moscow into further conflict with Western nations.
State media says messages and audio recordings were produced as evidence, allegedly showing a man acting for Ukrainian and British intelligence, offering both the money and citizenship as part of the recruitment attempt.
Russia’s MiG-31 can carry the Kinzhal missile , a ballistic weapon Moscow describes as hypersonic, capable of rapid manoeuvres that make interception difficult. This missile system has been a key symbol of Russia’s advanced military technology during the ongoing conflict.
However, Reuters has stated it could not independently verify the claims, and there has been no comment from London or Kyiv on the accusations.
Moscow has repeatedly blamed the UK for escalating tensions, accusing British agencies of assisting Ukrainian operations inside Russian territory. Meanwhile, the UK views Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an aggressive landgrab and continues to warn European nations about ongoing Russian intelligence threats designed to disrupt democracy.
The plan, the FSB claims, was to fly the jet towards a NATO military base in Constanta, Romania, where the aircraft could then have been intercepted and destroyed by European air defences. The agency describes it as a “large-scale provocation”, reportedly aimed at drawing Moscow into further conflict with Western nations.
State media says messages and audio recordings were produced as evidence, allegedly showing a man acting for Ukrainian and British intelligence, offering both the money and citizenship as part of the recruitment attempt.
Russia’s MiG-31 can carry the Kinzhal missile , a ballistic weapon Moscow describes as hypersonic, capable of rapid manoeuvres that make interception difficult. This missile system has been a key symbol of Russia’s advanced military technology during the ongoing conflict.
However, Reuters has stated it could not independently verify the claims, and there has been no comment from London or Kyiv on the accusations.
Moscow has repeatedly blamed the UK for escalating tensions, accusing British agencies of assisting Ukrainian operations inside Russian territory. Meanwhile, the UK views Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an aggressive landgrab and continues to warn European nations about ongoing Russian intelligence threats designed to disrupt democracy.
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