It is a reminder that the current Russian leadership, despite suffering setbacks on the battlefields of Ukraine, and a war now felt sometimes uncomfortably close to home, remains defiant — and, perhaps, increasingly unpredictable.
When a plane carrying the Defence Secretary, John Healey, back from a visit to Estonia was subject to an electronic warfare attack, suspicion immediately fell on Russia. It is no surprise: in recent years we have seen drones disrupting air traffic; an arson attack in London; apparent threats to undersea cables.
The last case prompted Healey himself to personally address the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, “We see you”, and to warn of “serious consequences”.
Shorts
Perhaps the jamming of the RAF jet carrying the Defence Secretary was ordered by Putin himself as a provocative riposte. The UK has come to occupy a special place in Putin’s loathing of the West. Russia now sees the UK as its greatest foe — a status that was confirmed last year.
