The Russian military dispatched an Su-30 fighter jet as a British RC-135 reconnaissance plane tried to approach the border of Crimea, the Russian Defence Ministry stated on Thursday.

"From 12-00 to 15-00, an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft of the British [Royal] Air Force tried to approach the Russian border off the south-western part of the Crimean Peninsula", the Defence Ministry said.

According to the statement, the British aircraft had to turn back after the Russian plane approached.