MOSCOW, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Russian strategic bombers conducted a routine patrol over the Barents and Norwegian seas, the Russian Ministry of Defense said Thursday.
The mission involved Tu-95MS aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces and lasted for more than seven hours, during which the crews practiced aerial refueling, the ministry said on Telegram.
According to the ministry, the bombers were escorted by Su-30SM fighter jets. At various stages of the route, the strategic aircraft were also accompanied by fighter jets from foreign nations.
"All flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft are carried out in strict accordance with international rules of airspace usage," the ministry said.
It noted that Russian long-range aviation crews regularly conduct patrols over the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Pacific Ocean, and the Baltic and Black seas. ■
