Moscow claims fighter jet intercepted RAF spy plane near testing sites

Moscow claims fighter jet intercepted RAF spy plane after it ‘crossed Russian state border near hypersonic missile testing sites’

• Moscow said it ‘intercepted’ a British RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft
• A leading pro-Putin politician demanded a ‘harsh’ response from the Kremlin
• The Ministry of Defence has yet to Moscow’s claim on the airspace violation 

Moscow has claimed it scrambled a MiG-31BM fighter to force away an RAF spy plane which ‘illegally crossed Russia’s state border in the Arctic’.

The British RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft was ‘intercepted’ over the Barents Sea, according to reports.

A leading pro-Putin politician demanded a ‘harsh’ response from the Kremlin.

The Ministry of Defence has yet to respond to MailOnline’s request for comment on Moscow’s claim.

Russia did not immediately show footage of the moment it alleged the RAF plane flew into its airspace close to remote Cape Svyatoy Nos in Murmansk region.

Instead it highlighted a video of an evidently unrelated MiG-31BM and Su-34 drill from Perm region.

Footage from Perm region of MiG-31BM and Su-34 scrambling and refueling used in Zvezda state TV’s report on the alleged interception of an RAF reconnaissance aircraft. Russia’s MiG-31BM fighter-interceptor, which it said intercepted a UK spy plane, is pictured here

Footage from Perm region of MiG-31BM and Su-34 scrambling and refuelling used in Zvezda state TV’s report on the alleged interception of an RAF reconnaissance aircraft

The footage shows the planes refuelling in an undisclosed location. The Russian state media provided no evidence of the interception

Russian media channel share the route of RAF RC-135W plane, reportedly intercepted over the Barents Sea

TV news bulletins were interrupted to flash the alleged British incursion on state TV channels.

Rossiya 1 channel announced: ‘Now an urgent report from the Ministry of Defence. A British RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft violated the state border of Russia over the Barents Sea.

‘Air defence crews on duty detected an unknown air target. A MiG-31BM fighter was scrambled to intercept it. Its crew drove the intruder out of our airspace in the area of Cape Svyatoy Nos.’

The RC-135 reconnaissance plane was described as a ‘radioelectronic warfare aircraft’ in the Russian media.

A map showed the purported route of the British plane to the Arctic from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

The coastline in Murmansk region includes the headquarters of Russia’s Northern Fleet and secret multiple military bases and facilities.

It also includes testing locations for Vladimir Putin’s hypersonic weapons.

MP Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international committee of the Russian lower house of parliament and leader of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), said: ‘A reconnaissance aircraft violated Russia’s state border near Cape Svyatoy Nos…

‘It looks like those who issue such absurd and provocative orders have forgotten how a British destroyer intruded into Russia’s territorial waters to be stopped by our border guards.

Vladimir Putin (pictured in Moscow) often communicates through state-funded media such as Rossiya 1. The TV station said it scrambled a MiG-31BM fighter to force away an RAF spy plane which ‘illegally crossed Russia’s state border in the Arctic’

Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile is launched from the Russian guided missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov during a test in the White Sea, in this still image taken from video released October 7, 2020

‘The inviolability of Russian borders is a fundamental principle, which should not be tested.

‘I am convinced that a response to any intrusions will be adequately harsh.’

Russian reports said it was rare for NATO planes to ‘breach’ Russian air space.

Russia has previously accused Britain of breaching its territory when this was disputed by the UK Defence Ministry.

No concrete evidence of an aerial border breach was initially provided by the Russians.

Stock photo: A UK reconnaissance aircraft RC-135 is pictured over the Black Sea, photographed in December 2021

Russia’s navy is the artic is pictured. Russia says a NATO jet violated its airspace in the region

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