British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said Thursday that a Russian fighter jet released a missile near a British spy plane over the Black Sea in an encounter on September 29.
Wallace said he expressed concern about the incident with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, and that he replied by saying the missile release happened due to a technical malfunction.
“A reply by the Russian Minister of Defence on the 10th of October stated that they have conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and stated it was a technical malfunction of the SU 27 fighter,” Wallace told British parliament, according to Reuters.
Wallace said that Shoigu acknowledged the encounter took place over international waters. The British defense chief added that British spy planes flying in the region are now being escorted by British fighter jets.
The incident highlights the danger of the Western military presence in the Black Sea amid heightened tensions with Russia. As NATO is supporting Ukraine in a war against Russia, an accident between warplanes or naval vessels could quickly spiral into a conflict between the two sides.
The US and NATO significantly boosted their presence in the Black Sea the year before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. According to data compiled by Stars and Stripes, the US more than doubled its naval presence in the Black Sea in 2021 compared with 2020. One of the most notable incidents in the Black Sea took place in June 2021, when a British destroyer sailed about 12 nautical miles from Crimea.
Another Russian pilot smoking on duty.
Russians are rascals.
Maybe they should send in the Light Brigade again.
😆
“UK Says Russian Fighter Jet Released Missile Near British Plane Over Black Sea The British defense minister says his Russian counterpart told him the release was due to a technical malfunction”
The real question is why is a small vestigial belligerent UK poking Russia by putting aircraft over the Black Sea while nuke exercises are going on in NATO countries.
The UK is an island of insane military people trying to stay relevant with a minuscule military they cannot afford.
The US Marine Corp is bigger than the entire British army!
Fly the friendly skies… 😉
It was intentional. The next time there may be a lock, followed by the missile. If the mission was to evoke a response, will it succeeded. I am sure the UK pilot was not enthused.
Can’t allow conservative Russia to stand against the globalists. They also support the pro-Palestinian Syria and Iran, so they must be destroyed. London is majority non-White, which is a good start, but hopefully the same will happen to Moscow one day. That’s REAL progress.
Also, Sweden has fallen down to 38th in mathematics worldwide, after having had an industry based on innovation. They have also stopped taking part in international comparisons of proficiency in the schools. I can’t imagine why. Anyway, soon Eastern Europe will be likewise enriched. But Putin has opposed mass immigration to Europe, which is RACIST, so he must be removed. No major country can be allowed to have a head of state who says such anti-globalist things.
That is why we must support the Azov Battalion and similar in Ukraine. Their celebration of Stepan Bandera and re-enactment of WWII as a revenge for the Holodomor doesn’t matter. Russia matters.
Sorry Brits, this theater isn’t for kiddies. Why not have a go at the Falklands? More your speed.
British spy planes doing reconnaissance for Ukraine is an act of war. By the laws of war Russia is justified in shooting them down.
Rly!?