Russian Tu-95MS Bear bombers equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles were seen flying over the Barents and Norwegian Seas, accompanied by an Il-78M tanker aircraft and at least one Su-30SM2 fighter jet.
According to the website The Aviationist, this is the second time in a year that the Russian Tu-95MS bomber has conducted this type of flight in the region, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 30, 2026.
The Tu-95MS equipped with Kh-101 missiles had already been seen flying over the area in May 2025. Both flights were widely publicized by the Russian Ministry of Defense in statements that included extensive imagery and detailed remarks about the operations.
In its statement, Russia also said the bombers were “escorted by fighters from foreign states.” The fighters, likely NATO aircraft, however, were not captured in the images released by the Russian ministry.
So far, neither NATO Air Command nor the Norwegian, Swedish, or Finnish air forces have released any information regarding a possible interception.
Two strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS (with “Kh-101 cruise missile”) escorted by Su-30SM fighters performed a scheduled flight over the waters of the Barents and Norwegian seas.
📹 MoD RF (Apr . 30)https://t.co/GXdI7Tz4Wf pic.twitter.com/htxshCHSnE— Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) April 30, 2026
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Photo and video: Russian Ministry of Defense / X @MrFrantarelli. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
