Russian Air Force bombers not violating Iceland's airspace - Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry has denied reports by foreign media alleging that two Russian Air Force bombers violated Iceland's airspace on Thursday.
"The flight was conducted in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace, over neutral waters, without violating state borders," the Defense Ministry said in a statement shared with Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
Two Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers that departed Engels airbase on Thursday performed a patrolling mission, the ministry said. Their route passed over neutral waters of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, including the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The mission lasted more than 20 hours.
"While in flight, the long-range aviation planes were escorted by the Royal Air Force's Typhoon planes," it said.