According to information published by the British publication Mirror, Alliance fighters were sent into the air after Tu-95MS bombers from Russia flew near NATO countries' borders. This incident was perceived as a possible manifestation of pressure from Russia, and the article mentions concerns about threats to the northern regions of the United Kingdom.
During the flight, the bombers were escorted by Su-33 fighters.
On the morning of December 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the flight of the Tu-95MS was planned and took place in the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The flight lasted about seven hours and was conducted in full compliance with international norms.
The ministry also added that long-range aviation crews regularly perform flights over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, as well as the Baltic and Black Seas.
