Jul 24. () –
A Russian Air Force Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a strategic reconnaissance aircraft and two British military fighters flying over the Black Sea on Wednesday and escorted them back to the opposite direction, preventing what Moscow fears would be a border breach.
“Russian airspace surveillance over the Black Sea detected air targets approaching the state border of the Russian Federation,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, confirming that the Su-27 had been sent to the area to intercept the British aircraft.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, when the Su-27 approached the three British planes, they maneuvered to change course and fly in the opposite direction, moving away from the Russian border, while its fighter returned “safe and sound” to the airfield from which it had taken off.
Russian authorities have stressed that the flight of the Su-27 was carried out in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters. According to Russia, its fighter did not cross the route of the French aircraft or come dangerously close to them.
Russia has already reported such situations on several occasions, especially after the invasion of Ukraine, launched by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, nearly two and a half years ago. To date, none of these incidents have had any major consequences.
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