A Russian jet fired a missile near a British plane while it was flying over the Black Sea, according to reports.
Russia claims that its fighter jet accidentally fired a missile “in the vicinity” of the British spy plane at the end of September.
This report has just been revealed by British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Wallace said two Russian Su-27 fighters “interacted” with an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane on patrol above international waters south of Crimea on September 29.
Wallace said one of the fighters “released a missile” by “accident.”
Wallace said: “I would also like to share with the House details of a recent incident which occurred in international airspace over the Black Sea.
“On September 29 an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint, a civilian-style aircraft on routine patrol over the Black Sea was interacted with by two Russian armed Su-27 fighter aircraft.
“It is not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed and this day was no different.
“During that interaction, however, it transpired that one of the Su-27 aircraft released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range.
“The total time of the interaction between the Russian aircraft and the Rivet Joint was approximately 90 minutes.
“The patrol completed and the aircraft returned to base,” he said.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, blamed the incident on a “technical malfunction.”
Britain does not believe it was a deliberate attempt to escalate, Mr. Wallace said.
“A Russian aircraft on Sept. 29 released a missile near a British aircraft patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea, the Defence Secretary [Ben Wallace] has revealed.”
The next PM has to be ready to deal with a desperate Putin. https://t.co/Lq5FiBnZlX— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) October 20, 2022
A Russian aircraft accidentally released a missile as it interacted with an RAF aircraft over the Black Sea, the UK defence secretary says pic.twitter.com/AjEFyoWO4N
— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) October 20, 2022
‘Russian jet fired a MISSILE near British plane patrolling over the Black Sea: Two of Putin’s SU-27s ‘interacted’ with RAF spy plane, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace reveals’ 09:45 EDT 20 Oct 2022 https://t.co/qnXJqrVn0g pic.twitter.com/LxN7qlH05O
— lc 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 (@Chirpingoutloud) October 20, 2022
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said this week in an interview with Punchbowl News that support for Ukraine may soon dry up.
He said after the GOP takes the House in November, he is not sure he has the votes to keep funding Ukraine.
Especially if we are in a recession.
“I think people are going to be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank cheque to Ukraine,” McCarthy said.
