Russia on Thursday affirmed it had dispatched fighter-bombers for the second time this week to prevent two American strategic bombers from “violating the state border” over the Baltic Sea, Moscow said.
• Also read: Russia says it intercepted two US bombers over the Baltic Sea
The Russian Defense Ministry said it deployed Su-27 and Su-35 fighters and “identified the air targets as two US Air Force B-1B strategic bombers.”
This is the second such interception since the beginning of the week.
“Violation of the national border was avoided,” added the MoD, noting that the interceptors then “returned to their base in complete safety.”
Their flights were “operated in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace,” the same source added.
Moscow has said it has intercepted several Western planes in this way in recent weeks.