The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reportedly intercepted a scheme in which Russian pilots were allegedly offered $3 million to deliver a MiG-31 equipped with the hypersonic Kinzhal missile to a NATO airbase in Constanța, Romania. The plot, according to Moscow, involved coordination between Ukrainian and British operatives, aiming to use the advanced aircraft in a major provocation.
State media released recordings and messages, claiming they came from an individual working for Ukrainian and British intelligence. The recordings reportedly show the individual offering the Russian pilot cash and citizenship in exchange for flying the fighter jet to Europe.
The MiG-31, armed with the air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile, is one of Russia’s most advanced aerial assets. Moscow’s announcement emphasizes that the jet remained secure, thwarting what it described as a high-stakes international intelligence operation.
Analysts say such claims underscore the ongoing shadow play of intelligence and military maneuvers amid heightened tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and Western allies.
