Russian defense ministry: US Navy P-8A approaches Russian border in Barents Sea

An R-8A Poseidon aircraft of the US Navy approached the Russian border in the Barents Sea, a Mig-31 fighter took off for identification, no violation of the Russian border was allowed, Report informs referring to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

On September 18, Russian airspace control equipment detected an air target over the Barents Sea, approaching the state border of the Russian Federation. To identify it and prevent violation of the border, a MiG-31 fighter from the defense forces of the Northern Fleet was scrambled.

"|The crew of the Russian fighter identified the air target as a US Navy P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft. As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign military aircraft made a turn from the State Border of the Russian Federation. There was no violation of the State Border of the Russian Federation," the Ministry of Defense reported.

The ministry emphasized that the flight of the Russian aircraft took place strictly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters - the Russian fighter did not cross air routes and did not allow a dangerous approach to a foreign aircraft.