Russian Su-35 and Su-27 fighter jets dangerously intercepted an unarmed RAF spy plane over the Black Sea, disabling its autopilot and conducting close passes, described by UK Defence as highly provocative and risky.

Two Russian warplanes, a Su-35 and a Su-27, 'repeatedly and dangerously' intercepted an unarmed RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea last month. The Su-35 approached close enough to trigger the RAF plane's emergency systems, disabling its autopilot, while the Su-27 carried out six passes, getting as close as six meters from the RAF plane's nose. The British Ministry of Defence condemned the actions as the most dangerous Russian behavior since 2022 when a Russian pilot fired missiles at a Rivet Joint over the same region. The RAF plane was conducting a routine international flight to support NATO's eastern flank. Defence Secretary John Healey praised the RAF crew's professionalism and called the Russian flybys 'unacceptable' and a serious risk of accidents and escalation. The Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office have called on the Russian embassy to condemn the incident. The report contextualizes the incident amid increased Russian aggression in the region, highlighting recent Russian submarine activities near critical British underwater infrastructure in the North Sea.