Vladimir Putin has launched a new show of strength with his nuclear bombers as Western fighter jets were forced to shadow the huge aircraft as they passed north of Britain.
NATO warplanes buzzed the pair of Tu-95MS ‘Bears’ over the Norwegian Sea during the four-hour flights, in which they were escorted by Russian MiG-31 and Su-33 fighter jets.
It came just days after Keir Starmer vowed to crush the Kremlin dictator’s war machine in a dramatic speech urging European leaders to shoulder more burden in the fight against Russian aggression.
The strategic bombers flew from an Arctic air base and were tailed by Western escorts as they flew close to NATO states.
‘Two Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ long-range aviation performed a scheduled flight in the airspace over neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas,’ Putin’s defence ministry said.
‘The flight lasted more than four hours. The crews of MiG-31 aircraft of the Aerospace Forces and Su-33 planes of the Navy provided fighter support during the flight.’
The Russians admitted that they were buzzed by Western planes escorting the bombers.
‘At some stages of the flight, fighter jets of foreign states escorted the Russian strategic bombers,’ said Kremlin news agency TASS.
NATO warplanes buzzed the pair of Tu-95MS ‘Bears’ over the Norwegian Sea during the four-hour flights, in which they were escorted by Russian MiG-31 and Su-33 fighter jets
The strategic bombers flew from an Arctic air base and were tailed by Western escorts (pictured) as they flew close to NATO states
The Russians admitted that they were buzzed by Western planes escorting the bombers
It came just days after Keir Starmer vowed to crush Kremlin dictator’s war machine in a dramatic speech urging European leaders to shoulder more burden in the fight against Russian aggression
The Russian defence ministry stated: ‘The aircraft of Russia’s Aerospace Forces perform all the flights in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace.’
The flight by Putin’s bombers came after Sir Keir told EU leaders: ‘We need to see all allies stepping up – particularly in Europe.’
As he became the first British leader since Brexit to attend a meeting of the European Council’s 27 EU leaders, the Prime Minister pressed the case for closer defence ties.
He will told counterparts to ‘step up’ their efforts to crush Vladimir Putin’s war machine and capitalise on Russia’s weakening economy.
Amid fears Ukraine’s front could collapse in just six months, the PM urged Europe to keep up the pressure, while putting Kyiv in the strongest possible position.
He said: ‘We need to see all allies stepping up – particularly in Europe.
‘President Trump has threatened more sanctions on Russia and it’s clear that’s got Putin rattled. We know that he’s worried about the state of the Russian economy.
‘I’m here to work with our European partners on keeping up the pressure, targeting the energy revenues and the companies supplying his missile factories to crush Putin’s war machine.
A NATO plane escorted Russia’s strategic nuclear bombers as they flew to the north of the United Kingdom over neutral waters of the Norwegian Sea
The Tu-95 fleet is an integral part of Russia’s nuclear armoury, but the planes have also been used to launch devastating conventional missile strikes causing large-scale destruction in Ukraine
The Soviet-era Tu-95s first flew some 70 years ago but remain a mainstay of the Russian nuclear force
‘Because ultimately, alongside our military support, that is what will bring peace closer.’
It comes just weeks after it was revealed a Royal Navy submarine was faced to chase off a Russian spy ship as it was ‘loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure’.
The Yantar scarpered to the Mediterranean, followed by surface vessels and RAF aircraft, after being spooked by the sub in the North Sea in November.
Last month it made the return journey through the English Channel, shadowed again by Navy warships, the Commons was told.
It is understood to have occurred in the vicinity of Widemouth Bay on the north Cornish coastline. An RAF maritime patrol aircraft, alongside HMS Cattistock, HMS Tyne and RFA Proteus, shadowed her every move.
The Yantar’s crew eventually complied with a ‘polite’ warning issued by the submarine’s crew – which included the phrase ‘good morning’ – and headed towards the Mediterranean.
It is the latest incident in which Russian vessels have been accused of shady behaviour.
John Healey told MPs he approved a mission targeting the Yantar, saying it was ‘loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure’ at the time.
The vessel legged it to the Mediterranean, followed by surface vessels and RAF aircraft after being spooked by the sub in the North Sea in November. But it is currently making the return journey through the English Channel, shadowed again by Navy warships (pictured), the Commons was told.
Almost 200 RN sailors were recalled on Christmas Day so they could be deployed to shadow Russian warships spotted in the North Sea and English Channel.
Frigate HMS Somerset set sail on Friday December 27, to keep a watch on the corvette RFS Soobrazitelny and two support vessels, MV Sparta II and MV General Skobelev for almost 500 miles.
Mr Healey told MPs in January: ‘I also wanted President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.’
The developments come at a point of heightened tension between Russia and Britain over Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Britain’s backing of Kyiv – with a top Kremlin mouthpiece and former President threatening to ‘sink’ Britain last year.
‘The island called Britain is likely to sink in the next few years,’ Dmitry Medvedev posted on his personal social media account, adding: ‘Our hypersonic missiles will help if necessary.’
The Tu-95 fleet is an integral part of Russia’s nuclear armoury, but the planes have also been used to launch devastating conventional missile strikes causing large-scale destruction in Ukraine.
The Soviet-era Tu-95s first flew some 70 years ago but remain a mainstay of the Russian nuclear force.
The super-noisy Tu-95s are the world’s only propeller-powered strategic bombers.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
