(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Russian Ministry of Defense has scrambled its fighter jets to intercept and “drive away” two U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers from entering Russian airspace.
In a statement, the Ministry said it had deployed MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter jets to intercept “air targets approaching the air border of the Russian Federation” over the Barents Sea.
“The Russian fighter crews identified the air targets as two U.S. Air Force B-52H strategic bombers.”
“When the Russian fighter jets approached the two U.S. B-52H strategic bombers, they corrected their flight path, moving away from the Russian air border,” the Ministry of Defense stated.
The U.S. military frequently conducts flights in international airspace, asserting that these operations are conducted in neutral airspace and in accordance with international law.
However, Moscow has reportedly responded aggressively to U.S. fighter and bomber flights in recent months.
Last June, Russia warned it would respond to U.S. drone and reconnaissance aircraft flights, particularly over the Black Sea. It accused these flights of aiding Ukrainian military attacks on Russian positions in Crimea.
Moscow warned that U.S. reconnaissance flights could lead to direct conflict with the United States.
Last June, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov ordered his officials to prepare a “response plan” to address U.S. and NATO drone flights over the Black Sea.
Minister Belousov’s warning was a clear message that Moscow is now ready to take stronger action against U.S. and NATO drones, further increasing the likelihood of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO led by Washington.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated there is a “heightened frequency” of U.S. and NATO reconnaissance flights and drones over the Black Sea.
It claimed these drones are conducting “intelligence and targeting missions” for modern weapons supplied by Washington to Ukraine to strike Russian facilities.
“This demonstrates an increase in U.S. and NATO involvement in the Ukraine conflict, siding with the Kyiv regime,” the Ministry of Defense said.
It also noted that these reconnaissance flights and drones have raised the risk of “incidents” involving Russian military aircraft with NATO member countries.
“NATO members will be held responsible if such incidents occur,” it stated.
According to the Russian Defense Minister, it also shows an increased U.S. and NATO involvement in the conflict with Moscow.
Russia is reportedly poised to respond to U.S. and NATO drones operating in the Black Sea on intelligence-gathering missions.
The intelligence gathered by these reconnaissance aircraft, including the U.S. P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and MQ-4C Triton drones, is subsequently provided to Ukrainian forces to more accurately target Russian positions, especially in Crimea.
The call for Russia to respond to U.S. drones operating in the Black Sea has intensified, particularly following a Ukrainian missile attack using Washington-supplied MGM-140 ATACMS missiles on Crimea.
This missile attack on a popular beach in Crimea resulted in civilian casualties and injured more than 100 people who were on the beach. — DSA