MOSCOW: Ukrainian military intelligence agents recruited Russian military pilots on behalf of their country's political leadership in exchange for assurances and money of obtaining citizenship in the EU nation, according to a statement. They reportedly tried to persuade Russian pilots to land their planes in Ukrainian military-controlled airspace.

According to the FSB, both members of the Ukrainian special services participating in this operation and their allies have been identified. According to the Security Service, Kyiv is receiving significant support from the UK in this operation. 
The FSB reported that the executive director of the investigative journalism organization Bellingcat (which is listed in Russia as a foreign agent) participated in the operation at the same time. Grozev discovered two couriers who were linked to Moscow, appointed by Ukrainian intelligence through their coordinator, according to correspondence he had with one of the participants of the operation. Any pilot who agrees to hijack a warplane will receive an advance payment of $4,000 from the one he took.

Ukrainian agents allegedly attempted to bribe pilots by offering them up to $2 million to control Su-24, Su-34, or Tu-22 planes, according to a video clip made public by officials. Additionally, he said the EU has been informed of the plan and if successful it will guarantee their safety.

The FSB also noted that a Ukrainian official disclosed over the phone that several portable air defense systems had been collected in Ukrainian cities.

According to earlier reports, NATO and US intelligence are particularly involved in the Ukrainian crisis as their agents are sent to support Kyiv against Moscow in an attempt to stop a Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

As Ukrainian troops attempted to breach the Russian defensive line in the Kherson region, news of the operation's failure broke.
After the complete liberation of the area of ​​the LPR earlier this month, Russian forces and Donbass militias are advancing as Kyiv forces are being driven out of the area of ​​Donbass.

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