A plot to persuade Russian fighter pilots to fly their planes into Ukrainian-controlled territory and surrender has emerged after a tussle between the two countries’ spies, involving promises of millions of dollars in bribes and an alleged agent dressed as a pilot’s lover.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had exposed an operation backed by British intelligence to lure Russian pilots to Ukraine in exchange for $2 million and residency in an EU country.
Details of the alleged operation were published by Russian television channels, news agencies and websites. They included cellphone messages and audio clips, allegedly of Ukrainian intelligence officers trying to convince up to ten Russian pilots to defect.
“Our target is a plane,” said an unidentified voice