Russia intercepts two US bombers in the Arctic – DW – 07/21/2024

The Russian Defense Ministry assured this Sunday (07/21/2024) that MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters intercepted two American B-52H bombers over the waters of the Barents Sea in the Arctic. According to Moscow’s version, when the fighters approached the American strategic aircraft, they turned and went out of Russian territory.

The Russian command stressed that the flight of its aircraft was completed in strict compliance with international standards for the use of airspace over neutral waters and respecting security measures. They further added that the interception maneuver prevented a violation of Russian airspace from taking place, after which the fighters returned to their bases.

“The fighter jets took off to intercept an aerial target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation, which were identified as two B-52H strategic bombers of the United States Air Force,” the Russian statement said. “The bombers corrected their flight path, moved away and then turned to orient themselves away from the Russian state border.”

a more aggressive attitude

The US Air Force regularly conducts flights over international waters, claiming that the operations are carried out in neutral airspace and in accordance with international law. But in recent months Russia has reacted more aggressively to these types of maneuvers. In June it already warned that US drone flights over the Black Sea risked a “direct” military confrontation.

Russia says those operations over the Black Sea are aimed at helping Ukraine attack Russian targets in Ukrainian-occupied Crimea. Moscow warned in June that authorities were preparing to “respond” to the United States for those reconnaissance flights. In March 2023, a Su-27 fighter jet damaged a US MQ-9 drone.

dzc (EFE, AFP, Reuters, AP)