According to the report of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the bombers, which could be equipped with nuclear weapons, were accompanied by MiG-31 combat aircraft, and part of the military exercise was in-air refueling. The ministry added that the mission was a “scheduled flight over neutral waters” in accordance with international regulations.
The ministry did not specify the exact route, but the flight path over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea means that the air convoy may have passed close to Japan and the United States. We previously wrote about the fact that at this time of year, both NATO and Russia conduct nuclear military exercises, which are reported to each other.
Western officials consider the timing of Russian military exercises very bad after Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions, and that he is ready to defend Russia’s “territorial integrity” by all means, including nuclear weapons if necessary.
The United States has already indicated that it is deeply concerned about Russia’s failure to report on its upcoming military exercises. However, US officials remain confident in their ability to distinguish between Russian military exercises and a real nuclear missile launch.
It challenges us to be really sure that the things that happen are really part of an exercise and not something else.
– He warned of the dangers last week.
Cover image source: Wiki Commons
