“A Russian Su-27 air defense fighter took off to prevent a violation of the Russian state border. The crew identified the air targets as a spy plane, an RC-135 radio-electronic fighter and two Typhoon multi-role fighters of the British Royal Air Force,” the Russian ministry said.
The Russian government explained that “due to the proximity of the Russian fighter, the foreign military aircraft changed its course and moved away from the Russian border,” adding that the Russian aircraft returned to its base, after avoiding violating the border.
The Russian authorities confirmed that the fighter flights were carried out strictly in accordance with international standards for the use of airspace in neutral waters and respect for security measures.
This is the second incident of its kind in three days involving a British RC-135 spy plane and two Typhoon fighters over the Black Sea, after what happened last Wednesday.
Last March, a similar situation occurred with an RC-135 and two RAF Typhoon multi-role fighters, also over the Black Sea.
Moreover, this weekend Russian fighters intercepted two US B-52H bombers over the Barents Sea, causing three NATO aircraft incidents near Russia in just one week.
