Moscow’s claims of attempted MiG-31 theft are false, journalist says

Grozev said the FSB “dossier” is wholly implausible, noting that it relies on an AI-generated face of one of the alleged conspirators and included stilted, artificial speech in the circulated video.

“Why would UK intelligence or Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence [HUR] recruit a non-existent journalist from an ‘undesirable’ organization that no Russian pilot would ever deal with?” he said.

“And why present a photo of a deceased helicopter pilot as ‘proof’ of the offer’s appeal? It’s so amateurish it needs no further comment.” 

In its report, the FSB alleged that Ukraine planned to use a Russian MiG-31 armed with a Kinzhal aeroballistic missile to stage a “provocation” at Romania’s largest NATO base in Constanta. Moscow claimed Ukrainian agents tried to recruit Russian pilots with promises of $3 million each and that operatives from the investigative group Bellingcat were involved “in persuading the plane’s navigator.” Grozev previously worked at Bellingcat as its lead expert on Russia, publishing key details of the 2018 Skripal poisoning case.

The FSB previously published a similar allegation in 2022, asserting that Ukrainian intelligence had been preparing to steal a military aircraft. Grozev and other analysts say the latest claims follow a familiar pattern of sensational, unverified stories designed to amplify Russian propaganda.