Two Russian jets last month intercepted a Royal Air Force surveillance plane over the ​Black Sea, in what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) ‌yesterday was a dangerous incident that raised the risk of potential escalation between Nato and Russia.

The ​Rivet Joint aircraft was unarmed and carrying out ​routine surveillance in international airspace over the Black ⁠Sea, the ministry said in a statement.

“A @RoyalAirForce Rivet Joint aircraft operating in international airspace over the Black Sea was dangerously intercepted by Russian military jets – flying as close as six metres and triggering onboard emergency systems,” the MoD said yesterday in a post on X, sharing a video of the interception.

It said the incident reflected “ongoing Russian aggression and heightened military activity across Eastern Europe and the High North”, adding: “The UK will continue to stand firm with its allies, united in the defence of Nato.”

The incident ​was the most dangerous Russian action against a UK surveillance plane ‌since ⁠2022 when a nearby Russian plane released a missile over the Black Sea, in what Moscow later called a technical malfunction.