The military prevented the border breach, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Moscow:
Russia said on Tuesday it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet to “prevent violations of state borders” by two US Air Force strategic bombers flying over the Baltic Sea.
“After the removal of foreign military aircraft from the Russian state border, the Russian fighter returned to its airport,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The military prevented the border violation, the statement said, adding that “the flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international regulations for the use of airspace.”
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder confirmed that the US planes had been intercepted by Russia, adding that the B-1 bombers were participating in “long-planned exercises in Europe”.
This is the latest in a series of similar incidents.
Just a week ago, Russia said two planes, one German and one French, were intercepted while attempting to “violate” its airspace.
In mid-April, Russia sent a fighter jet to escort a German naval plane over the Baltic Sea.
In March, a US drone crashed after colliding with a Russian jet over the Black Sea.
Russia’s defense ministry said it had grounded the jets after detecting a US drone over the Black Sea, but denied causing the crash, saying the plane had lost control.
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