Russia has launched a new show of military strength as two Tu-95MS nuclear bombers conducted a four-hour flight over the Norwegian Sea north of Britain.
The strategic bombers were escorted by Russian MiG-31 and Su-33 fighter jets during their mission over neutral waters.
Nato warplanes shadowed the pair of Tu-95MS ‘Bears’ throughout their flight, which took place just days after Sir Keir Starmer urged European leaders to increase efforts against Russian aggression.
Russia’s defence ministry stated the flight was conducted “in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace”.
NATO warplanes shadowed the pair of Tu-95MS ‘Bears’ (file pic) throughout their flight
Flickr
“The flight lasted more than four hours. The crews of MiG-31 aircraft of the Aerospace Forces and Su-33 planes of the Navy provided fighter support during the flight,” the ministry said.
The bombers flew from an Arctic air base over the Barents and Norwegian Seas.
“At some stages of the flight, fighter jets of foreign states escorted the Russian strategic bombers,” according to Kremlin news agency TASS.
The flight comes after Starmer’s recent address to EU leaders, where he became the first British leader since Brexit to attend a European Council meeting.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Russia stated the flight was conducted ‘in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace’
REUTERS
“We need to see all allies stepping up – particularly in Europe,” Starmer told the 27 EU leaders.
He pressed for closer defence ties and urged Europe to help “crush Putin’s war machine” amid concerns about Ukraine’s military position.
The Labour leader emphasised the need to target Russia’s energy revenues and companies supplying missile factories.
The Tu-95 fleet plays a crucial role in Russia’s nuclear arsenal but has also been used to launch conventional missile strikes in Ukraine.
The Soviet-era aircraft, which first flew 70 years ago, remains a mainstay of Russia’s nuclear force.
The flight comes after Sir Keir Starmer’s recent address to EU leaders, where he became the first British leader since Brexit to attend a European Council meeting
PA
The Tu-95s are notable for being the world’s only propeller-powered strategic bombers.
These ‘Bears’, as they are known by NATO, have been responsible for causing large-scale destruction in Ukraine through conventional missile strikes.
This military display follows a recent confrontation where a Royal Navy submarine forced a Russian spy ship to retreat from UK waters.
The vessel Yantar was found “loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure” in the North Sea last November, prompting its retreat to the Mediterranean.
Defence Minister John Healey told MPs: “I wanted President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”