Stars and Stripes reports that “during the past several days, a U.S. observation plane has been flying over Russian skies, taking photos of military installations and equipment — all with permission of the Russians.”  

“The flight comes amid Russia’s increasing isolation over its military moves in Ukraine and fears of a new Cold War between Moscow and Washington.”  

“Once upon a time, all surveillance flights were conducted covertly by the likes of Francis Gary Powers, the former Air Force pilot who spent almost two years in a Russian prison after his U-2 spy plane was downed by a Soviet missile over Sverdlovsk in 1960.”