US B-52H strategic bombers have again been spotted near Russian borders, forcing the Baltic Sea Fleet’s Su-27 fighter jets to take to the skies and monitor their actions, Russia’s Defense Ministry has said.
Video released by Moscow showed all stages of the ‘intercept’ – from the pilot in full gear rushing towards his jet to the Su-27s gaining on the American nuclear-capable bombers and “foreign surveillance planes” above the neutral waters.
NATO aircraft have frequently been spotted outside Russian airspace above the Baltic and Black Seas’ borders in recent years. The flights, which Moscow deems provocative, have intensified since 2014, when Crimea rejoined Russia and the ongoing military conflict broke out between Kiev and self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine.
“The violation of the state border was prevented,” the statement by the Defense Ministry read, adding that the Russian planes carried out their mission in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace.
The US and NATO aircraft which approached the Russian borders were taking part in the Baltops 2020 exercise, the ministry pointed out.
The drills in the Baltics gathered 28 vessels, 28 planes and up to 3,000 personnel from 19 NATO member-states, including the US, UK, France, Germany and Canada. The week-long wargames, which conclude on Tuesday, focus on air defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, and mine countermeasure operations.
NATO aircraft have frequently been spotted outside Russian airspace above the Baltic and Black Seas’ borders in recent years. The flights, which Moscow deems provocative, have intensified since 2014, when Crimea rejoined Russia and the ongoing military conflict broke out between Kiev and self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine.
