Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had thwarted an alleged Ukrainian-British plan to hijack a MiG-31 fighter jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and use it to stage a false flag attack on a NATO airbase.

According to Russian state media, the operation was directed by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and coordinated with “UK handlers,” with the intent of creating a large-scale provocation against NATO forces in Southeastern Europe.

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Alleged Details of the Plot

The FSB statement claims that the operation aimed to convince a Russian pilot to fly the MiG-31 to Constanta, Romania, where NATO is constructing its largest airbase in the region. The plan allegedly involved shooting down the aircraft after it crossed into Romanian airspace, making it appear as if Russia had attacked NATO, thereby provoking a major international incident.

State media displayed what it said were messages and recordings of an individual working for Ukrainian and British intelligence, who reportedly offered the pilot $3 million and European citizenship in exchange for participation.

The FSB also alleged that Bellingcat, a UK-founded investigative group labeled “undesirable” by Russia, was involved as a cover or intermediary. The organization has not responded to the latest accusations, although it previously denied similar claims made by the FSB in 2022 involving a Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet.

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Context and Broader Conflict

The allegations emerge amid an ongoing information and cyber war between Russia, Ukraine, and Western allies, alongside a persistent conventional war in eastern Ukraine. Russian ground forces continue incremental advances, while both sides conduct hundreds of aerial strikes daily, including the use of Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

Over the past week, Russian strikes have heavily damaged Ukrainian energy infrastructure, demonstrating the continuing intensity of the conflict.

Russian officials criticized Ukraine and its allies for a “lack of originality in plots,” referencing previous claims in 2022 about attempted operations to hijack advanced Russian aircraft.

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Security and Regional Implications

If verified, such operations would signal a dramatic escalation in unconventional warfare tactics, highlighting the vulnerabilities of advanced military aircraft and the potential for false flag operations to destabilize regional security.

Experts caution that these allegations, whether accurate or part of the broader propaganda war, underscore the ongoing high-stakes tension in Eastern Europe, particularly around NATO deployments and Russian hypersonic missile capabilities.