Overview
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tu-95MS strategic bombers conducted a scheduled mission over neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas lasting more than seven hours.
- Su-33 fighter jets from the Russian Navy escorted the bombers, according to the official statement.
- At stages along the route, the bombers were shadowed by fighter jets from other countries, which Moscow did not identify.
- NATO warplanes were scrambled to monitor the flight, according to the Mirror’s reporting.
- The ministry framed the operation as part of regular long-range patrols over international waters, following earlier December sorties that drew responses in East Asia.