• Russia's FSB claims to have foiled a plot involving Ukrainian and British spies.
• The alleged operation aimed to hijack a MiG-31 jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
• The plot included an offer of $3 million and European citizenship to recruit Russian pilots.
• The plan involved a false flag operation to provoke NATO responses.
• This incident highlights escalating tensions and information warfare between Russia and the West.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it had thwarted a conspiracy by Ukrainian and British spies intended to entice Russian pilots to hijack a MiG-31 jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. Reportedly, the hijacked jet was to be flown towards a NATO airbase in Romania’s Constanta, where it was to be shot down, creating a provocation scenario, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

The FSB reported that Ukrainian military intelligence had sought to recruit Russian pilots with an offer of $3 million and European citizenship. Visual evidence presented by Russian state television included messages and recordings allegedly revealing the plot, which involved individuals collaborating with Ukrainian and British intelligence. The FSB criticized the planning as unoriginal, referring to past accusations involving a similar hijacking attempt, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

This incident not only amplifies the ongoing conflict but also highlights the heightened levels of espionage and misinformation between Russia and the West. As intelligence battles escalate, the FSB’s claims underscore Russia’s narrative of being targeted by Western powers, with Moscow alleging that Britain's intelligence services are directly supporting operations in Ukraine, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and India Times.