Russia Claims Foiled Ukrainian Plot to Hijack MiG-31 Fighter Jet Armed with Hypersonic Kinzhal Missile
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Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleges it has disrupted a Ukrainian military intelligence operation aimed at stealing a MiG-31 supersonic fighter jet capable of carrying the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. The alleged plot, involving recruitment of Russian pilots and a planned flight towards a NATO airbase in Romania, was revealed on Tuesday, November 11, according to a statement from the FSB’s Public Relations Center.
Alleged Ukrainian Recruitment Efforts
The FSB claims that Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) attempted to incentivize Russian pilots with a payment of $3 million for their cooperation in the scheme. According to the FSB, the intent was to fly the MiG-31, armed with a Kinzhal missile, into the vicinity of Constanta, Romania – home to the largest airbase in southeastern Europe. The plan reportedly hinged on the aircraft being shot down by NATO air defense systems, potentially as a provocative act. The planned date for the hijacking was November 4, 2025.
Bellingcat Allegedly Involved in Intelligence Gathering
The FSB further asserts that the international investigative group Bellingcat played a role in the operation. A representative of the Russian intelligence service stated on the Rossiya 24 TV channel that in 2024, a person identifying himself as Bellingcat journalist Sergei Lugovsky contacted the commander of the MiG-31, presenting press credentials and claiming to be gathering information for a report.
Following the commander’s refusal to cooperate, an unidentified individual allegedly approached the fighter’s navigator, offering financial compensation and foreign citizenship in exchange for hijacking the aircraft. “The operation was being supervised by the top leadership of Ukraine, European partners and the British CIS,” the navigator was purportedly told, and instructed to incapacitate the commander with poison before directing the jet towards both Odessa and the NATO airbase in Romania.
The Case of Maxim Kuzminov: A ‘Successful’ Precedent?
To illustrate the potential for defection, the FSB claims the navigator was shown a photograph of Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian military pilot who defected to Ukraine in August 2023. Kuzminov stole a Mi-8 helicopter and, in a video released by Ukrainian intelligence, stated he had contacted Ukrainian authorities directly. He alleged his crew members refused to surrender and were killed by Ukrainian forces after landing.
Kuzminov was reportedly rewarded with $500,000 and a Ukrainian passport under the alias Igor Shevchenko, subsequently relocating to Spain and purchasing an apartment in Villajoyosa. However, his freedom was short-lived; Kuzminov was murdered in February 2024 in a Cala Alta apartment complex. CBS News sources suggest a former KGB officer and a Russian police colonel may have been involved in the assassination.
Unconfirmed Claims and Lack of Independent Verification
Despite the detailed allegations, there has been no independent confirmation of the FSB’s claims regarding the attempted MiG-31 hijacking. As of this reporting, neither Ukraine nor the United Kingdom has issued a statement addressing the accusations.
The Kinzhal missile, described by Moscow as hypersonic, is designed for high-speed, highly maneuverable flight, presenting significant challenges for existing air defense systems. .
The FSB’s announcement arrives amid heightened tensions in the region, and its claims should be viewed with caution pending independent verification.
