Russian Secret Service Foils Ukraine, NATO Plot to Hijack Combat Aircraft: Report

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claims it thwarted an operation carried out by Ukraine and NATO member states to hijack a combat aircraft.

An unspecified number of Russian pilots allegedly agreed to part with their aircraft in exchange for money and were expecting to receive an advance payment for the same when the FSB intercepted the operation, according Rossiya-24 TV channel which spoke to an FSB operative.

"The Federal Security Service has uncovered and suppressed an operation of Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, overseen by NATO special services, to hijack Russian Air Force combat aircraft," the FSB's Center for Public Relations (CPR) told TASS on Monday.

The FSB reported that officers of the Ukrainian military intelligence, acting on behalf of the political leadership of their country, tried to recruit Russian servicemen, promising money and guarantees of citizenship in one of the European Union countries. The Ukrainian intelligence officers tried to induce them to fly and land at airfields controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces, the report said.

FSB counterintelligence service's detection of this alleged plan also made it possible to strike a number of Ukrainian military facilities, TASS said. "In the course of the operation, Russian counterintelligence officers obtained information that helped our armed forces to strike a number of Ukrainian military facilities," as per FSB.

In addition, Ukrainian intelligence officers involved in the operation and their accomplices were identified.

In the past, Ukraine had offered $100,000 plus citizenship to Russian pilots who flew their aircraft to Ukraine.

British Special Services involved in 'hijack' operation: FSB operative tells Russian TV Channel

An operative of Russia’s FSB said on Monday that an attempt by the Ukrainian intellignce to 'hijack' Russia’s Aerospace Forces planes was conducted with the support of Western intelligence, primarily, of British special services.
"It is obvious that the operation itself was conducted with the support of Western special services, first and foremost, the UK’s," he told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
The FSB also noted that a the reporter of a U.K. based private intelligence gathering agency, participated in the operation. He found two delivery drivers in Moscow to hand over an advance payment to Russian pilots who allegedly agreed to participate in the hijacking. "We know, not only from his statements, that the reporter (name withheld) is involved with MI6. In general, recently, Ukrainian intelligence has stopped hiding its ties with the special services of NATO countries and aspires to be closer to its sponsors from Washington and London," the FSB operative added.