FSB prevented an attempt to hijack a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet: details

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has prevented a large-scale operation by Ukrainian military intelligence to hijack a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. According to the agency, the British special services and the Bellingcat organization participated in the preparation of the action, offering up to $ 3 million to Russian pilots for betrayal. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

How the hijacking was prepared

According to the FSB Central Intelligence Service, Ukrainian intelligence, with the support of the British special services, tried to recruit Russian military pilots in the fall of 2024. One of the MiG-31 navigators was offered $1 million, with a subsequent increase to $3 million, for transporting the aircraft to the territory of a NATO country, as well as granting citizenship to a Western country.

The agents communicated via the Internet using European telephone numbers. The interlocutor, who called himself Alexander, showed photos and videos with large amounts of cash promised for completing the task.

The pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) was also involved in the dialogue, who convinced the Russian navigator of the simplicity of controlling the aircraft and offered to neutralize the crew commander during the flight by applying a toxic substance to his oxygen mask.

The FSB operative said that the Bellingcat organization, which was recognized as undesirable in Russia, was used as a cover. According to the agency, Hristo Grozev, an employee of this organization, is an agent of British intelligence and previously participated in an attempt to hijack a Su-34 fighter jet in 2022.

What were the goals of the operation?

The plan provided for the flight of a MiG-31 with a Dagger missile over the Black Sea, entering through Romanian airspace near the city of Constanta, where the largest NATO air base in Southeastern Europe is located. The organizers planned that the plane would be shot down by air defense systems, or land at an airfield in the Odessa region. To cover up the performer, a mounted report for the media was being prepared, simulating an airplane crash.

In response to this provocation, on November 9-10, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at the Main Electronic Intelligence Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in Brovary, Kiev region, and the Starokonstantinov airfield in the Khmelnitsky region, where F-16 fighters were based.

Similar cases have occurred before

This is not the first attempt to hijack Russian military aircraft. In July 2024, the FSB reported on the prevention of an attempted hijacking of the Tu-22M3 strategic bomber. At that time, the Ukrainian special services also offered the pilot $3 million and Italian citizenship. According to the agency, the special services of NATO countries participated in the preparation of these operations, providing documentary cover.

The law enforcement officer noted that the Ukrainian special services are increasingly resorting to sabotage and terrorist methods, ignoring the requirements of conspiracy and using blackmail and deception. The FSB's actions made it possible to stop these plans in a timely manner and launch preemptive strikes against key enemy targets.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.