According to the Defence Ministry, Russian airspace control devices detected three air targets approaching the nation's airspace over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea.
"To identify air targets and prevent illegal entrance into Russian airspace, two pairs of MiG-31 and Su-35 fighters from the air defence forces of the Eastern Military District took off", the Russian National Defence Control Centre said.
MiG-31 interceptor fighter takes off during a training flight at the State Centre for the Training of Aviation Personnel and Military Tests of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation n.a. V.P. Chkalova in Lipetsk
© Sputnik / Nina Padalko
/ The Russian fighters identified the air targets as B-52H strategic bombers from the US Air Force Global Strikes Command and escorted them over the Bering Sea, the centre said, adding that any illegal entrance into the country's airspace was prevented.
Over the past few years, Russia has repeatedly reported the escalating activity of NATO aircraft near its borders, warning that such actions by the bloc near the country's territory might result in incidents.