The Su-35S pilot was supposed to escort and cover the bombers, but during the mission the pilot detected an enemy strike group in the air.
"Received a combat mission to cover our strike group. The mission was fully accomplished. During the mission, an enemy strike group was detected. Performed targeting on this group, following the instructions of the command post, approached, prepared to attack. The enemy group turned away and aborted the mission," Ivan, the Su-35 pilot, stated.
He added that all Russian planes had returned to the airfield and that the combat mission had been accomplished.