RAF fighters intercept Russian planes in international air space
The UK scrambled fighter jets this week to intercept two Russian military aircraft in international air space north of Scotland. ● The two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters identified the planes as Tupolev TU-95s, mainly used by Russia for reconnaissance. The headline in the Daily Mail falsely claimed the Tupolevs had “stray[ed] into British airspace”. This was contradicted by a Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesman, who later confirmed that the Russian planes “remained in international air space at all times”, saying this was something “they are perfectly entitled to do”. He also added that Russian military flights have “never entered sovereign UK airspace without authorisation”. Royal Navy vessels are also reportedly shadowing a Russian destroyer, which is sailing past the UK. The MOD and the Guardian tried to downplay the link between these incidents and the explosive tensions between NATO and Russia following the installation of a pro-West regime in Kiev with the support of far-right and fascist forces. They said it was not “related to the Ukraine crisis”, but was a “relatively routine” occurrence. Such statements were flatly contradicted, however, by reports in the Daily Telegraph, which wrote: “Senior commanders have said they are prepared for such incidents to increase, if tensions over Ukraine flare further.” They occur as the Western-backed Kiev regime’s crackdown on pro-Russian protesters in eastern Ukraine is bringing Europe to the brink of war between Russia and Ukraine, and NATO builds up its military forces aimed at Russia throughout northern and eastern Europe.
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