WARGAMES

Nato fighters scrambled over Putin's bombers in neutral seas Moscow: Op was scheduled

- BY CHRIS HUGHES Defence and Security Editor

NATO fighter jets were scrambled yesterday as Russian Tu-95 “Bear” bombers flew over the Barents Sea near Norway's border.

The long-range warplanes, a Cold War-era tool of Moscow's nuclear deterrent, were reportedly conducting a scheduled flight, according to Russia's defence ministry.

Ukraine says at least 10 of the aircraft have been destroyed in drone strikes since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022 and Kyiv started dismantling Vladimir Putin's war machine.

The nuclear-capable bombers have repeatedly made incursions towards the UK's airspace in recent years, testing Britain's strike range and response times.