×

Russian strategic bombers make 16-hour test flight over Barents, Norwegian seas

By Thomson Reuters Jun 22, 2026 | 7:54 PM

June 23 (Reuters) – Russian strategic Tu-160 missile-carrying bombers conducted ​a 16-hour ‌flight including an air-to-air refueling test in the neutral zone ‌over ​the ⁠Barents Sea and ⁠the Norwegian Sea, the defense ministry said on Telegram.

The ​flight, which the ministry ⁠said was ⁠a routine one, ​was accompanied by ​Russian MiG-31 fighter jets ‌and was escorted by foreign fighter jets at ⁠certain points, the post, issued in the ⁠early ‌hours of Tuesday, ⁠said, without ​specifying ‌the countries involved.

In ​the ⁠north, Russia borders NATO members Norway and Finland.

(Reporting by Jekaterīna Golubkova in ​Tokyo)