Moment Russian jet ‘chases off Brit spy plane’ after warning West is ‘playing with fire’ over Black Sea stand-off

RUSSIA today claimed to have forced a British spy plane to change course as it approached Crimea. Earlier the Kremlin had warned that the West was “playing with fire” by deploying warships in the Black Sea, as Russia warned of the “risks of a clash”. East2WestRussia released images of the RAF plane[/caption] East2WestFootage taken from within the Russian fighter[/caption] The RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft “tried to approach the state border of the Russian Federation in southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula,” according to the Moscow defence ministry.  Major General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the ministry, claimed an Su-30 fighter was scrambled to intercept the RAF aircraft.  “About 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the Russian Federation state border, the Su-30 approached the reconnaissance aircraft, after which the British plane changed course away from the Russian border.” Footage purportedly showed the incident over the Black Sea south of the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2014.  Earlier this year, Royal Navy warship was involved in a confrontation with Russian forces in the area. HMS Defender was off Crimea in international waters when the 8,500-ton ship – armed to the teeth with hi-tech weapons systems – was approached by a coastguard vessel. “The Russian Defence Ministry records an increase in the military activity of the United States and its NATO allies in the Black Sea region,” it said in a statement.  The ministry described the unscheduled drills as “aggressive US actions posing a threat to regional security and strategic stability.” In 24 hours, four NATO reconnaissance planes were detected and escorted by the Russian anti-aircraft missile forces, the ministry noted. The West insists that under international law Crimea belongs to Ukraine.  East2WestThe Russians released a map of where the plane was intercepted[/caption] More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.