Russia Scrambles Fighter Jets After US Bombers Approach Border: Moscow
Russian jets were scrambled to prevent two U.S. military long-range bomber aircraft from crossing over into Russia, Moscow's Defense Ministry said on Sunday. | Russian MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter jets identified two U.S. Air Force B-52H heavy bombers closing in on the border after Russia detected aerial targets over the Barents Sea, the Kremlin said in a statement posted to social media. The Barents Sea sits north of Finland, Sweden and Norway, as well as northwestern Russia.
💬 "As the Russian fighters approached, the U.S. strategic bombers turned away from the State Border of the Russian Federation," Moscow said in a statement. The Russian aircraft "safely returned to their base airfields," it added. "The flight of the Russian fighters was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters, observing safety measures."
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Air Force for comment. Russia occasionally reports scrambling jets to intercept aircraft belonging to NATO countries approaching its airspace. Earlier this month, Moscow said its airspace control systems covering the Barents Sea had detected a Norwegian Air Force P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft heading for its border on July 10.
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