Russian fighter jets scrambled after three UK warplanes detected near border, Moscow claims
British officials later confirmed the RAF craft had been in the area but said it had been part of “a routine operation in international airspace”. It comes amid heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Monday 26 June 2023 22:10, UK
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Russian fighter jets were scrambled after three British warplanes were detected near the country’s border, Moscow has claimed.
In a statement, the country’s ministry of defence claimed two RAF Typhoon fighter jets and an RC-135 reconnaissance plane were intercepted over the Black Sea.
It said the planes made a U-turn when its own jets approached – and they did not violate Russia’s airspace.
“The flight by the Russian fighter jets was carried out in strict compliance with the international rules for the use of airspace over international waters without crossing air routes or coming dangerously close to aircraft of a foreign state,” it added.
A short video posted online by the Russian defence ministry – which it claimed was of the incident – appeared to show an RC-135 with the words “Royal Air Force” written on the side.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence later confirmed the three RAF planes had been in the area, but described it as “a routine operation in international airspace”.
A spokesperson said: “An RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft and its two Typhoon escorts carried out a routine operation in international airspace over the Black Sea on Monday 26 June.
“Russian aircraft were observed in the area. The RAF and Russian aircraft and their crews operated in a safe and professional manner throughout.”
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In March, Russian officials claimed to have sent jets to intercept two US strategic bombers that flew close to its border over the Baltic Sea.
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A Russian aircraft was also said to have been intercepted by British RAF and German fighter jets that same month after it was identified flying near Estonian airspace.
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