Nato fighter jets were scrambled after Russian nuclear-capable bombers were detected flying close to the UK coast. The Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, conducted a 16-hour mission over the Barents and Norwegian Seas, north of Shetland.
F-35 fifth-generation fighters from Nato intercepted the Russian aircraft, which included Tu-160 strategic bombers and MiG-31 escort jets. The Russian defence ministry confirmed that the Tu-160s practised in-flight refuelling over neutral waters.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions, with reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov advocated for the use of nuclear weapons at a closed meeting. Political analyst Andrey Kolesnikov quoted Lavrov as saying, 'Well, I would still use them,' when asked about nuclear weapons.
Earlier this month, Lavrov warned that nuclear war was possible if the West refused to meet Russian demands over Ukraine. He stated, 'A direct confrontation between Nato and Russia could rapidly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes, with catastrophic consequences.'
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued to strike Russian positions in Crimea, setting oil terminals and military facilities ablaze. The attacks have disrupted the summer tourist season and caused fuel shortages and blackouts on the peninsula.
