Three Russian strategic bombers Tu-22M3 carried out this Thursday an extensive five-hour exercise over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, after taking off from Olenya Air Base in northern Russia.
The activity was initially disclosed by OSINT analyst AviVector on his page on X.
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According to the expert, one of the aircraft acted as a “relay,” ensuring communication between the other two bombers and ground command posts. The mission also involved continuous air cover provided by Su-27 and Su-35S fighters, responsible for protecting the airspace throughout the operation.
The presence of Russian bombers in the region triggered a response from NATO air forces.
Sweden scrambled JAS 39 Gripen jets, while Italy deployed Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from bases in Sweden and Estonia.
Russian Ministry of Defense confirms planned flight
In a video published on its official Telegram channel, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Tu-22M3s carried out a scheduled flight over international waters, accompanied by Su-35S and Su-27 fighter crews.
According to the ministry:
- The mission lasted more than five hours;
- On specific sections of the route, the bombers were escorted by fighters from foreign countries;
- Russian long-range aviation regularly conducts flights over the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific, Black Sea, and Baltic Sea;
- All flights comply with international airspace use regulations.
The exercise reinforces the growing military activity in the Baltic region, where NATO and Russia have been intensifying their aerial operations amid the tense geopolitical environment in Eastern Europe.
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Source and images: X @avivector | Telegram @mod_russia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
