FACT CHECK: Video Showing Russian Interception Of U.S. Plane Is Old

Elias Atienza | Senior Reporter

A video shared on Twitter claims to show a Russian fighter intercepting a U.S. P-8 Poseidon over the Black Sea in April 2023.

Verdict: False

The video was taken in July 2021.

Fact Check:

Ukraine is receiving a large supply of fighter jets from multiple allies during their war against Russia, according to Business Insider. Ammo for these jets, however, is low and the country is requesting as much as possible, the outlet reported.

The video, viewed more than 200,000 times, claims to show a Russian fighter intercepting a U.S. aircraft in recent days. The video’s caption reads, “Reportedly a Russian fighter jet earlier today intercepted a US Navy P-8 Poseidon over the Black Sea and ordered it to leave the area.”

This video, however, is old and was not taken recently. Through a reverse image search, Check Your Fact found that the video was posted to YouTube in July 2021 by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The video’s title, translated from Russian, is “Escort of reconnaissance aircraft Boeing P-8 Poseidon over the Black Sea.”

On the evening of July 6, Su-30SM fighters from the duty forces of the naval aviation and air defense of the Black Sea Fleet were lifted into the air to escort the Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft over the waters of the Black Sea. The aircraft was detected by Russian airspace control means. A pair of Su-30SMs identified an air object and prevented it from violating the State Border of the Russian Federation,” reads part of the video’s description.

The incident was reported by media outlets such as Reuters and the Daily Mail. Russian fighters have frequently intercepted U.S. aircraft and downed a Reaper drone in March 2023, according to The New York Times. (RELATED: Video Is Fro Movie Set, Not Russian-Ukrainian War)

Elias Atienza

Senior Reporter
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