Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) jets chased away two Russian military aircraft flying close to UK airspace, defence officials said today.
The two Russian bombers, spotted off the Cornwall coast yesterday, were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the "UK area of interest", a spokesperson for UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Russian Tupolev TU-95 bombers, also known as Russian Bear bombers, did not enter UK sovereign airspace, he stressed.
"RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace. The Russian planes were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the UK area of interest. At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK sovereign airspace," he said.
The interception of the Bears comes a fortnight after similar aircraft flew into the English Channel, prompting the Government to demand an explanation from the Russian ambassador.
UK defence secretary Michael Fallon has warned that there is a "real and present danger" of Russia trying to destabilise three Baltic states.
Fallon, during a trip to Sierra Leone yesterday, spoke of his concerns about Russian interference in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
As tensions between NATO and Russia have worsened over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has significantly increased the number of military flights probing NATO airspace.
The number of interceptions over the Baltic States trebled last year.
