Why Russian jets intercepting an RAF spy plane is 'serious incident'

The BBC's Frank Gardner explained how the incident highlighted tense relations between Russia and Nato. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Split screen showing Russian Su-27 alongside RAF Rivet Joint aircraft on the left, and Frank Gardner in studio on the right Why Russian jets intercepting an RAF spy plane is 'serious incident' Two Russian warplanes "dangerously" intercepted an unarmed RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last month, the Ministry of Defence has said on Wednesday. A Russian Su-35 fighter approached the surveillance aircraft - close enough to trigger its emergency systems - while a Su-27 jet carried out six passes in front of it. The MoD said the Rivet Joint had been conducting a routine international flight to aid in securing Nato's eastern flank. BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner described the incident as "really serious", pointing to the potential for escalation amid tensions between Russia and Nato. Laura Bicker and Steven Rosenberg explain the relationship between the leaders as the pair meet in Beijing. Russia launched one of the biggest air strikes on Kyiv since the start of the war with several apartment blocks hit. A specialist team helped supply critical medical support to Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic. The BBC's Russia editor reports from Moscow, where the annual Victory Day display was quieter than usual. Each bear in the installation in Washington, DC, is meant to represent one of the children Ukraine says have been abducted by Russia. Officials say the restrictions are for public safety, but businesses and the public are feeling the impact. 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