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The British newspaper The Times, citing leaked classified US documents, revealed that Russian fighters intercepted at least 6 reconnaissance flights from NATO countries between late September and late February.
The newspaper recalled the September 29 incident involving a Russian Su-27 fighter, and wrote, referring to leaked classified documents, that the Su-27 pilot on that day “attempted to launch a missile at the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft flying over the Black Sea.” It should be noted that the missile allegedly "missed its target", which prevented a "large-scale military crisis".
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had said earlier that the missile was fired "in very close proximity" to the British RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft, but US intelligence in classified documents described the incident as more serious, indicating that the British aircraft "almost shot down". Fall,” the article states.
"Since the incident (September 29), Russian fighter jets have intercepted at least six reconnaissance flights by NATO countries," the newspaper wrote, referring to documents that appeared online.
The newspaper did not specify the exact reaction of the Russian fighters, and it is noteworthy that in two cases - on February 11 and 22 - it was related to the flights of the British Rivet Joint aircraft, which were accompanied by the Eurofighter Typhoon fighters of the Royal Air Force.
According to the newspaper, the documents cover the period from September 29 to February 26, which is why the incident in March with the fall of the American MQ-9 Reaper in the Black Sea was not taken into account.
Citing flight tracking data, the British Air Force's RC-135 Rivet Joint planes flew over the Black Sea once every ten days.
And in October 2022, the head of the British Ministry of Defense, Ben Wallace, stated that the British Air Force planes had to interrupt patrols over the Black Sea after a missile was fired from a Russian plane.
The incident was reported in international airspace on September 29, when two Russian Su-27 fighters engaged British RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft and one of the Russian aircraft fired a missile near the British aircraft, but out of line of sight. .
In October, Wallace said he raised his concerns directly to fellow Russian Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and that on October 10, he received a response from the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to Lawas, the Russian agency reported that the accident occurred due to a "technical malfunction" on board the Su-27.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that a new set of classified US documents on Ukraine, China and the Middle East had been leaked to the Internet.
It was claimed that more than 100 documents could have accessed the internet, that the damage was significant, and the Pentagon said they were investigating the leak.
This came as Moscow put Russia's entire Pacific Fleet on high alert on Friday for a surprise drill that will include missile launches, in a massive show of force amid tensions with the West over the fighting in Ukraine.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the aim of the war exercises is to test the ability of the Russian armed forces to launch a response to aggression.
Shoigu added that in addition to the missile launches, nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other war fighters, as well as aircraft from the air arm of the Pacific Fleet, will also participate in the exercise.
And the Ministry of Defense announced that the areas located in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan and Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, will be closed to sea and air traffic for the period of testing torpedoes and missile launchers and conducting artillery exercises.
The ministry added that the Deputy Minister of Defense, Alexander Fomin, informed the foreign military attaches about the exercises, and stressed that their aim is to "test the readiness of the Pacific Fleet to repel any aggression." The ministry described the reporting as reflecting Russia's "voluntary transparency".
The Ministry of Defense also released videos showing warships and submarines sailing to take part in the maneuvers.
As part of the exercises, naval units were deployed on amphibious landing craft and transported coastal missile defense systems to launch sites.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the exercises as part of routine exercises aimed at "maintaining the necessary level of readiness of the armed forces".
Shoigu said today's maneuver scheme is a response to an adversary's attempt to land on Sakhalin Island and the South Kuril Islands.
Last year, Russia announced the suspension of peace talks with Japan in protest of the sanctions imposed by Tokyo on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.
Russia has strengthened its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighters, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there.
The Pacific Fleet exercises began days before Chinese Defense Minister General Li Changfu is planning a visit to Moscow.
Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Moscow highlighted the partnership between the two countries in the face of Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukraine.
Both Moscow and Beijing accuse Washington of trying to isolate them and obstruct their development at a time when the United States is competing for regional and global leadership.
Putin and Xi said they would increase contacts between their militaries and organize more joint naval and air patrols and exercises, but there was no sign that China would help Russia with weapons, as the United States and other Western allies fear.