Russian Warplanes Repeatedly Intercept RAF Spy Plane Over Black Sea: Report

Key points

• Russian Warplanes Repeatedly Intercept RAF Spy Plane Over Black Sea: Report Published By, Last Updated: May 21, 2026, 01:16 IST Russian jets repeatedly intercepted an RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint over the Black Sea, underscoring rising tensions between Russia and NATO amid the war in Ukraine.
• A Russian Air Force jet (representational image/AFP) Russian fighter jets were repeatedly scrambled to intercept a British Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance aircraft flying over the Black Sea, according to reports, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Moscow and NATO countries.
• The aircraft involved was an RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint, a reconnaissance plane used for intelligence gathering and electronic surveillance.
• The mission reportedly took place near areas of heightened military activity linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
• Russian military aircraft are said to have approached and shadowed the British plane multiple times during the operation.