"As part of a sudden inspection of the combat readiness of the Pacific Fleet, part of the Aerospace Forces and support units, eight Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed a combat training flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Sea of Okhotsk and the northern part of the Sea of Japan," the ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, the crews of two Russian strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS have conducted planned patrol flights over the neutral waters of the Bering and Okhotsk Seas as part of a sudden inspection of the Pacific Fleet's combat readiness.
The Tu-22M3 is a supersonic long-range strategic bomber. It has the capability to carry a range of missiles and bombs including nuclear weapons and is often used for reconnaissance and targeting missions. The bomber has been in service since the 1970s and has undergone several upgrades over the years.