Pentagon Sends 2 US Spy Planes Close To Russian Occupied Area

Two United States Air Force spy planes were tracked flying over Eastern Ukraine earlier in the week.

The planes flew close to a Russian occupied territory and flight tracking data revealed the two spy planes that were used were an E-8C surveillance plane and a RC-135V intelligence aircraft.

The mission comes at a time where the Pentagon has called for Russia to deescalate military buildup near the Ukrainian border.

Just imagine what would’ve happen if one of these spy planes were shot down…

The world would never be the same, then again Biden would’ve just turn his head like he did in Afghanistan.

Watchers of flight-tracking data reported the mission Monday near Russian-occupied territory. It involved an E-8C battlefield surveillance plane and an RC-135V Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, data showed.https://t.co/hCKeHgGaVv

— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) December 29, 2021

The US Air Force flew another spy plane over eastern Ukraine on Thursday morning to gather intel about the Russian military situation on the ground, per source. It was the second time this week that the US carried out such a mission & came just hours before Biden's call w/Putin.

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) December 30, 2021

Stars and Stripes had more on the story:

A pair of Air Force spy planes flew over eastern Ukraine this week, even as Washington and Moscow prepare for talks intended to allay fears of a new Russian invasion of its southwestern neighbor.

Watchers of flight-tracking data reported the mission Monday near Russian-occupied territory. It involved an E-8C battlefield surveillance plane and an RC-135V Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, data showed.

The flight marks the first time an E-8C has operated in Ukrainian airspace, U.S. Air Forces in Europe said in an emailed response to a query late Wednesday. The command declined to give specifics about the mission or what prompted it.

Public flight data indicated that the surveillance plane flew out of Ramstein Air Base in Germany, while the Rivet Joint took off from Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete. That means they flew with their transponders on.

The flights come amid heightened tensions over a Russian military buildup along the Ukrainian border. Some estimates said the Kremlin had amassed 100,000 troops at the peak of the buildup.

Putin and Biden recently had a phone call on Thursday but the details of the calls have been limited.

U.S. President Biden and Russian President Putin spoke about Ukraine in their second conversation this month. Despite the talk of diplomacy, the tone of the call was described by officials on both sides as 'serious' https://t.co/U3F7AS6yUQ pic.twitter.com/WuAmkzHlVx

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021

Reuters had more on that angle of the story:

Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday exchanged warnings over Ukraine but conveyed some optimism that diplomatic talks in January could ease spiraling tensions.

In a 50-minute call, their second conversation this month, Biden said he needed to see Russia decrease its military build-up near Ukraine, while Putin said sanctions threatened by Washington and allies could lead to a rupture in ties. The call was requested by Putin.

“President Biden reiterated that substantive progress in these dialogues can occur only in an environment of de-escalation rather than escalation,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the call created a “good backdrop” for future talks. The leaders’ exchange set the stage for lower-level engagement between the countries, including a Jan. 9-10 U.S.-Russia security meeting, followed by a Russia-NATO session on Jan. 12, and a broader conference including Moscow, Washington and other European countries slated for Jan. 13.

Despite the talk of diplomacy, the tone of the call was described by officials on both sides as “serious.” And neither country detailed significant progress towards a resolution or the outlines of any deal.