Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the footage of the two nuclear-capable Russian Tu-160 bombers on their eight-hour mission over the Baltic Sea and an ‘area of UK interest’ that caused British Typhoon fighters to scramble to intercept them.

The footage was shared on YouTube by the Russian Ministry of Defence where it has been viewed nearly 80,000 times.

In the video, the two Tu-160 strategic bombers are seen taking off from the runway before being intercepted by various jets at different points of the flight.

The footage ends with the Russian bombers returning to the airfield.

According to reports, Russia carried out the test flight over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, prompting Finland, Denmark, Poland and Sweden to scramble jets to intercept them at various points.

The Russian MoD was the flight was routine and adhered to international airspace regulations.

The MoD added that the two bombers, which can carry up to 12 short-range nuclear missiles, were in the air for eight hours.

A Russian MoD statement said: “At specific stages of the route, the aircraft were escorted by the Finnish Air Force’s F-18s, Royal Danish and Polish Air Force F-16s, as well as by the Swedish Air Force’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.”

The flight also caused Typhoon fighters to take off from RAF Lossiemouth to intercept the Russian bombers after they flew down from the top of Scotland, according to reports.

Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, said: “These Russian bombers are relics of the Cold War, do not comply with international air traffic regulations and are a hazard to civilian and military aircraft.