A US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III made an unusual flight into Russia on Tuesday, August 25, carrying CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow for meetings whose purpose has not been publicly disclosed.
The aircraft, serial 07-7181, landed at Moscow Vnukovo Airport after flying directly from Riga, Latvia. Flight tracking data showed the C-17 had arrived in Riga on August 23 after departing from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, near Washington, United States.
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Video recorded near Vnukovo showed the four-engine military transport approaching the Russian capital on Tuesday morning. A US diplomatic motorcade was also seen at the airport.
The identity of the passenger was initially unknown. CBS News later reported, citing sources familiar with the trip, that Ratcliffe was aboard the aircraft and had traveled to Russia for meetings.
The CIA has not commented on the visit, and neither the US nor Russian governments has disclosed who Ratcliffe is expected to meet or what will be discussed.
The Kremlin initially appeared unaware of the operation. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he had no information about the C-17 and said no meetings with US officials had been announced.
Rare US military flight into Russia
The presence of a USAF C-17 in Moscow is particularly unusual given relations between the two countries and restrictions on normal air links with Russia.
The Globemaster III is primarily a strategic and tactical airlifter, but its large cabin and long range also make it suitable for government missions requiring personnel, equipment and security support. The type can carry up to 170,900 lb (77,519 kg) of payload and has an unrefueled range of approximately 2,400 nm (4,445 km) with a 160,000-lb (72,575-kg) load.
The flight originated at Joint Base Andrews, best known internationally as the base used by US presidential aircraft but also an important hub for government and military air transport.
According to flight tracking data, the C-17 used Latvia as an intermediate stop before continuing into Russian airspace and landing at Vnukovo, an airport regularly used for Russian government and diplomatic flights.
Reuters reported that it was the first known direct flight by a US-registered aircraft from Europe to Russia since January, when US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ratcliffe’s arrival comes amid continuing contacts between Washington and Moscow. CBS News noted that the CIA director has maintained communication with Russian intelligence officials and that the agency has previously participated in negotiations with Russia involving detainee exchanges.
His Tuesday visit appears to be his first known trip to Russia since becoming CIA director.
