American B-52 bombers conducted a training flight near the border of Russia in Finland. Russia's reaction
Kyiv • UNN
Two US B-52 bombers flew over Finland for the first time near the border with Russia. For its part, Russia has raised its own fighter jets to identify air targets.
American intercontinental strategic bombers have made their first training flight in Finland near the border with Russia. According to Moscow, this is why MiG-29 and MiG fighters were flying in the sky. UNN writes about this with reference to the ministries of defense of the countries.
Details
The Finnish Defense Force said B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew in Finnish airspace on Sunday.
Two American B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew in Finnish airspace on Sunday, July 21. The flights were part of a training exercise. The bombers were supported by three American refueling aircraft
The Norwegian publication The Barents Observer, however, claims that the B-52s, heading north to Lapland, came as close to the Kola Peninsula as possible from the southwestern side. There, the bombers circled around and returned south again.
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It is noted that American pilots could see almost the entire peninsula, where Russian missile submarines are deployed, as well as the airfield " Olenya" , from which Tu-95MS strategic bombers usually take off to strike Ukraine.
During the flight over the territory of Finland, the American aircraft was accompanied by a group of F/A-18s of the Air Force of the Republic of Finland.
The Finnish Ministry of Defense emphasizes that this is a normal cooperation between the country and NATO members.
This is normal cooperation that takes place on the territory of a NATO member state, and it demonstrates the basic foundation of common defense and deterrence
Russia's reaction
In turn, the Russian Defense Ministry said that had spotted American aircraft over the Barents Sea. They explained that two planes were raised to identify the targets.
MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters from the air defense forces on duty were launched. Russian fighter jet crews identified the air target as a pair of B-52 strategic bombers
They added that as the Russian planes approached, the American bombers made a U-turn near the Russian border.
Recall
The Finnish parliament has approved a defense agreement that gives the United States access to 15 Finnish military bases, allows the presence of American soldiers and the storage of their military equipment in Finland.
