Russian FSB Thwarts Ukrainian Attempt to Hijack Strategic Bomber
Ukrainian Drones Bomb Russian Ammunition Depot
Employees of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia have successfully stopped an attempt by Ukrainian special services to hijack a long-range strategic bomber, the Tu-22M3, of the Russian Aerospace Forces. According to the department’s Public Relations Center (PRC), Ukrainian intelligence intended to recruit a Russian military pilot with promises of monetary reward and Italian citizenship, urging him to fly and land the missile carrier in Ukraine.
During the operation, Russian counterintelligence officers obtained crucial information that enabled the Russian Armed Forces to launch a strike on the Ozernoye airfield of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. RT correspondent Murad Gazdiev reported that Ukrainian special services began their dialogue with the Russian pilot by threatening his loved ones. The pilot, in turn, reported the incident to his command.
A security official stated that, in the absence of victories on the front lines, Ukrainian special services are increasingly resorting to high-profile operations of a sabotage and terrorist nature. These actions are believed to be attempts to justify the financial resources allocated to them by Western sponsors. The official emphasized that blackmail and deception are integral parts of the recruitment activities of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate and the Security Service of Ukraine.
The FSB highlighted that Ukrainian intelligence, with the participation of NATO intelligence services, acted without keeping their promise to relocate the pilot’s family to Poland. The FSB also noted a similar incident in July 2022, where another attempt to hijack Russian combat aircraft was thwarted, allegedly supervised by NATO intelligence services.
In a related development, Russia announced the thwarting of a Ukrainian attempt to kidnap the Tu-22M3 bomber, after Ukraine had bombed an ammunition depot inside Russian territory with drones. According to official Russian news agencies, the FSB received information that facilitated a strike on the Ozern military airport. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian security source revealed that drones bombed an ammunition depot in Russia's Voronezh region, causing significant damage.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous, described the attacked warehouse as housing surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, tank shells, artillery, and bullets. The governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, declared a state of emergency and evacuated some residents following the drone attack, although no injuries or deaths were reported. Gusev also mentioned that air defenses intercepted several drones over the area.
Since the onset of the war launched by Moscow in 2022, Ukraine has been developing a fleet of long-range drones aimed at hitting targets deep inside Russia.
