"The Russian airspace control systems located a group aerial target over the Barents Sea waters approaching the State border of the Russian Federation. To identify the aerial target and prevent a violation of the State border of the Russian Federation, the on-duty air defense units MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter jets were scrambled," the statement read.
As the Russian fighter jets approached, the US strategic bombers made a U-turn and hurried away from the Russian border.
The Russian fighter jets carried out the mission in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters and in compliance with security measures, the Russian ministry said.
The Finnish Defense Ministry said later in the day that two US B-52 bombers had carried out a training flight in Finland's airspace.
The bombers were accompanied by two US KC-135 refueling aircraft and one KC-46 refueling aircraft. The Finnish ministry said that the planes were flying south from Norway, over the northernmost Finnish region of Lapland.