Russia sends strategic missile carriers and bombers to fly over the Arctic

"Long-range aircraft performed planned flights in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Baltic, Barents, Norwegian, Eastern Siberia, Chukchi, Beaufort Seas and the Arctic Ocean," the Russian Defense Ministry report said.

According to the Ministry of Defense, strategic missile carriers Tu-160 and Tu-95ms, as well as long-range bombers Tu-22M3 took part in the event. The longest flight lasted more than 7 hours. Su-35, Su-27, MiG-31 pilots escorted the fighters.

"All flights are carried out in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace. Long-range aviation pilots regularly fly over neutral waters in the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Black and Baltic Seas and the Pacific Ocean," the Defense Ministry quoted the commander of long-range aviation, Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash, as saying.

The announcement came as Britain announced that Typhoon fighter jets had intercepted two Russian bombers in international airspace north of Scotland. Earlier, the Danish Air Force also announced that it had intercepted two Russian bombers heading towards an area that Dutch forces are responsible for monitoring for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Lan Ha