Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed that Ukraine’s military intelligence and the British secret service MI6 planned to hijack a MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. According to the FSB, the main goal of the plan was to direct the aircraft to a NATO base in Romania so that it would be shot down by air defence systems, thereby triggering an international crisis.
Pilots Offered $3 Million
According to the state news agency TASS, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), with the support of British officials, allegedly tried to recruit Russian pilots to deliver the MiG-31 to Ukraine in exchange for $3 million.
Reportedly, after the hijacking plan failed, intelligence operatives even considered poisoning the commander so that the co-pilot could take control of the aircraft.
An FSB official further claimed that the open-source research organisation Bellingcat was linked to the operation, describing it as a “so-called journalistic organisation controlled by the United Kingdom.”
FSB: “A Major Provocation Prevented”
In its statement, the FSB declared: “A large-scale provocation planned by Ukrainian and British intelligence aimed at inciting NATO has been thwarted.”
The Russian security service did not provide any evidence related to the alleged operation. Ukraine, NATO, and Bellingcat have not yet issued any official statements regarding the claims.
The Alleged Targeted NATO Base: Mihail Kogălniceanu
According to TASS, the target of the plan was the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base near the Romanian city of Constanța. Romanian and European media report that the base, covering approximately 3,000 hectares, is becoming NATO’s largest military base in Europe.
The €2.5 billion project includes runways, hangars, weapons platforms, schools, shops, and a hospital. Construction began in 2024, and the base is expected to become fully operational by 2040.
Currently, around 5,000 NATO troops from the United States, Poland, France, and Spain are stationed in Romania.
US to Reduce Troop Numbers in Romania
At the end of October, Romania’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the United States would reduce its troop presence in the country. Officials said the reduction would be “no more than one battalion” and would not significantly affect US operations in the region.
The ministry stated that the decision aligns with the new strategic priorities of the US administration and takes into account NATO’s reinforced presence on its eastern flank.
In a written statement, NATO said: “The Alliance has strong defence plans and maintains its deterrence posture.”
