When a Russian fighter fires on a NATO aircraft, everyone should be concerned. According to Russian news agency TASS, that happened on September 29 over the Black Sea.
The British Ministry of Defense claims that a Russian fighter jet fired a missile at a British military aircraft over the Black Sea on September 29. The British Minister of Defense said that he had discussed with Shoigu the incident with a British military aircraft in the Black Sea region.
Ben Wallace told the Commons the incident occurred in “international airspace over the Black Sea” on 29 September, adding that an “unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint” plane was “interacted with” by two Russian Su-27s, one of which “released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range”.
Wallace told the Commons that Russia blamed the missile release on a “technical malfunction”.
“The patrol completed and the aircraft returned to its base,” he said. “In light of this potentially dangerous engagement, I have communicated my concerns directly to my Russian counterpart, Defence Minister [Sergei] Shoigu, and the chief of defence staff in Moscow.”
A brief scan of Russian media this morning has not shown anything which would suggest the firing was a deliberate provocation or escalation on Russia’s part. The British position is that their aircraft were over international waters and flying routine patrol in full accordance with international law, and thus no hostile intent could be inferred.
Obviously, Russia and NATO have not gone to war over this incident. However, that such “mistakes” are even possible highlights the brinksmanship currently at play between NATO and Russia over Ukraine. NATO’s strategy of depleting the Russian military in a war of attrition in Ukraine might be succeeding (all indications are that it is at least for now), but such a strategy of proxy war does carry the risk of an unintended escalation to actual war, either through accident or miscommunication.
The sooner there is peace in the region the better off the world will be.
The UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, concluded his report into the incident over the Black Sea by telling the Commons: “The UK Ministry of Defence has shared this information with allies and, after consultation, I have restarted routine patrols, but this time escorted by fighter aircraft."
If the US does not want peace in the region then there will be no peace in the region. The US does not want peace in the region, this much is clear.
The UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, concluded his report into the incident over the Black Sea by telling the Commons: “The UK Ministry of Defence has shared this information with allies and, after consultation, I have restarted routine patrols, but this time escorted by fighter aircraft."
-The Guardian