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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ukrainian attempt to hijack Russian strategic bomber thwarted – FSB | Ukrainian attempt to hijack Russian strategic bomber thwarted – FSB |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Kiev’s spies tried to bribe the pilot of a Tu-22M3 aircraft, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said | Kiev’s spies tried to bribe the pilot of a Tu-22M3 aircraft, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said |
| A plot by Ukraine’s intelligence services to hijack a Russian Tu-22M3 nuclear-capable strategic bomber has been intercepted, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has said. | A plot by Ukraine’s intelligence services to hijack a Russian Tu-22M3 nuclear-capable strategic bomber has been intercepted, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has said. |
| Kiev’s spies offered a Russian air force pilot money and Italian citizenship if he agreed to fly the aircraft to Ukraine, the agency said in a statement on Monday. | Kiev’s spies offered a Russian air force pilot money and Italian citizenship if he agreed to fly the aircraft to Ukraine, the agency said in a statement on Monday. |
| The involvement of special services of NATO countries in the failed hijacking was uncovered, the FSB said. It did not name specific members of the US-led military bloc. | The involvement of special services of NATO countries in the failed hijacking was uncovered, the FSB said. It did not name specific members of the US-led military bloc. |
| During the “operational game,” Russian counterintelligence officers were able to obtain information that helped the military to carry out a successful strike against the Ukrainian armed forces’ Ozernoye airfield, it added. | |
| The facility is located near the city of Zhytomir in northwest Ukraine. | The facility is located near the city of Zhytomir in northwest Ukraine. |
| The FSB also published a video of the Russian pilot, who helped the agency with the operation. His identity was concealed and voiced changed in the clip. | The FSB also published a video of the Russian pilot, who helped the agency with the operation. His identity was concealed and voiced changed in the clip. |
| The airman said he had been contacted on Telegram by a person who revealed he was working for Ukrainian intelligence. | The airman said he had been contacted on Telegram by a person who revealed he was working for Ukrainian intelligence. |
| According to the Russian serviceman, the man – who identified himself as Pavlo – started to threaten his relatives and demanded information about the Russian aircraft or to set the planes on fire. | According to the Russian serviceman, the man – who identified himself as Pavlo – started to threaten his relatives and demanded information about the Russian aircraft or to set the planes on fire. |
| Pavlo later “offered to hijack a warplane to the territory of Ukraine, and not any warplane, but a nuclear-capable strategic long-range bomber,” the pilot stated. | Pavlo later “offered to hijack a warplane to the territory of Ukraine, and not any warplane, but a nuclear-capable strategic long-range bomber,” the pilot stated. |
| The Russian serviceman said that instead of cooperating with the Ukrainian spy, he “went to his superiors and told them everything.” | The Russian serviceman said that instead of cooperating with the Ukrainian spy, he “went to his superiors and told them everything.” |
| The clip also included screenshots of conversations between the pilot and Ukrainian officer. Judging by the texts, the reward promised to the Russian sericeman for stealing the plane was $3 million. | The clip also included screenshots of conversations between the pilot and Ukrainian officer. Judging by the texts, the reward promised to the Russian sericeman for stealing the plane was $3 million. |
| The FSB reported foiling a similar plot by Ukrainian intelligence in July 2022. Back then, several Russian pilots were offered up to $2 million, EU passports and a comfortable life in the West for flying their planes to Ukraine. But the airmen instead worked with Russian counterintelligence officers, helping them to obtain information about Kiev’s forces. | The FSB reported foiling a similar plot by Ukrainian intelligence in July 2022. Back then, several Russian pilots were offered up to $2 million, EU passports and a comfortable life in the West for flying their planes to Ukraine. But the airmen instead worked with Russian counterintelligence officers, helping them to obtain information about Kiev’s forces. |
| The Kremlin said the FSB deserved “top marks” for carrying out the sophisticated operation. According to RT’s sources, the Ukrainians was especially interested in Su-34 fighter-bombers and Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft. | The Kremlin said the FSB deserved “top marks” for carrying out the sophisticated operation. According to RT’s sources, the Ukrainians was especially interested in Su-34 fighter-bombers and Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft. |