Russian strategic bombers north of Scandinavia. “Fighter planes of some foreign countries” stepped in to escort them
Russian bomber Tupolev Tu-95, Photo: Meoita | Dreamstime.com
Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons carried out a “scheduled” flight over the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea, prompting “fighter jets of some foreign countries” to intervene to escort them, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday, according to the country's news agencies, AFP reports.
Moscow did not disclose either the date of the Tu-95 aircraft flights or the names of the countries that lifted the fighter jets off the ground.
“Tu-95 strategic bombers, capable of carrying missiles, carried out a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea,” the ministry said, referring to areas north of Scandinavia and northwest of Russia.
“At certain stages of the route, the long-range bombers were escorted by fighter jets from foreign countries,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The institution claims that such flights take place regularly in various regions and do not violate international law.
Also this month, South Korea and Japan criticized the flights of Russian and Chinese military aircraft near their territories, which led them to ground fighter jets.
According to Tokyo, two Russian Tu-95 bombers flew from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea, and then made a joint flight with two Chinese H-6 bombers.
Photo: Meoita | Dreamstime.com
