Moscow, DZWatch – Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has reportedly thwarted a Ukrainian operation aimed at hijacking a MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. The FSB claims the elaborate plot involved Ukrainian intelligence agents attempting to coerce Russian pilots into defecting with the advanced aircraft.
According to sources within the FSB, the Ukrainian operatives had been in contact with Russian pilots, offering them significant financial incentives and guarantees of safe passage to a European country in exchange for their cooperation. The plan allegedly involved the pilots diverting the MiG-31 during a routine training flight and landing at a Ukrainian-controlled airfield.
DZWatch has not been able to independently verify these claims. However, Russian authorities have released purported evidence of the plot, including intercepted communications and financial transactions, to support their allegations.
The Kinzhal missile, carried by the MiG-31, is a key component of Russia’s advanced weapons arsenal. Its hypersonic speed and maneuverability make it extremely difficult to intercept, and its potential for carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads makes it a strategic asset. The FSB’s statement suggests that the Ukrainian operation was specifically designed to gain access to this sensitive technology.
The incident underscores the heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the ongoing intelligence operations conducted by both sides. This alleged attempt to hijack a cutting-edge military asset highlights the lengths to which both nations are willing to go in the pursuit of strategic advantage.
Russian authorities have stated that those involved in the plot will face severe consequences. The incident is currently under investigation.
