These images reportedly show Russia flying two nuclear-capable missile planes over neutral Pacific waters and the Bering Sea near the US state of Alaska during an operation lasting over 12 hours.
The two Russian Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers flew over neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, which borders the US state of Alaska, and the Okhotsk Sea, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The Tu-95MS is a strategic bomber that can carry missiles with nuclear warheads.
The images, which were obtained from the Russian MoD on Tuesday, 18th October, show the two Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers taking off from a runway at an undisclosed location.
One of them can then be seen being refuelled in midair by a refuelling aircraft. The images also show the bombers being escorted by at least one Russian MiG-31 fighter jet before landing, also at an undisclosed location.
The Russian MoD said in a statement: “Two Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers of long-range aviation performed a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.
“The flight duration was more than 12 hours. Fighter escort was provided by the crews of the MiG-31 aircraft of the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet.
“In the course of the flight mission, the crews of Tu-95MS aircraft practised in-flight refuelling. Long-range aviation pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Black and Baltic Seas, and the Pacific Ocean.
“All flights of aircraft of the Aerospace Forces of Russia are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
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