Russia almost downed a British spy aircraft, according to WaPo

The Washington Post claims that a Russian fighter jet almost shot down a British surveillance aircraft in late September 2022, leading to a potential all-out war between Moscow and Kiev. The incident could have triggered Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, potentially leading to direct involvement of NATO forces in the conflict in Ukraine. Neither the US, the UK, nor Russia have commented on the contents of the document. The US has taken a more cautious approach to reconnaissance missions in the Black Sea region, instructing the Air Force to stay away from the Crimean Peninsula. A map shows several lines drawn over sections of the Black Sea to mark areas where American surveillance aircraft can and cannot fly.

In March, the Pentagon accused Russian pilots of reckless flying and claimed that one of the Russian jets had clipped the propeller of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, causing it to go down. The Pentagon has further rerouted its surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea in the wake of the incident.