Russia Publishes Footage of 2 Strategic Bombers Patrolling over Belarus
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In a statement, Russian MoD says that these measures are being implemented to guarantee the security of the Union State (including Belarus) and are not measures directed towards any party.
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The two Tu-160 strategic nuclear-capable bombers
The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage of two Tu-160 nuclear-capable strategic bombers, patrolling the airspace of Belarus.
#Видео Два дальних бомбардировщика Ту-22М3 ВКС России выполнили патрулирование в воздушном пространстве Белоруссии https://t.co/ebxxkqxQ0M#Минобороны #ВКС #Ту22М3 #РоссияБелоруссия #ПВО pic.twitter.com/LZxC6Q3OfF
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 10, 2021
The video shows the two bombers taking off from an airport in Russia, flying over Belarus, and then returning to the Russian airport.
Russian MoD said that "work continues to practice joint measures by the Air Force and air defense troops of the armed forces of Russia and the Republic of Belarus."
The statement added that "on November 11, two Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers of the Russian Aerospace Force conducted a patrol in the airspace of the Republic of Belarus, in which the issues of their fighter support by Su-30SM aircraft of the Belarusian Air Force were practiced."
The joint air patrol was undertaken by Russian strategic bombers escorted by Belarusian fighters for the objectives of guaranteeing military security of the [Russia-Belarus] Union State, and these actions are not directed against third countries, the ministry said.
The pilots completed their mission successfully, "demonstrating impeccable flight skills," the statement added.
The flight lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes
According to the statement, the patrol demonstrated a high level of interoperability of the Russian and Belarusian crews during the flight.
According to the ministry, the flight lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes. During this time, the strategic bombers covered a distance of over 3,000 km. All the aircraft returned to their home airfields.
Background of the escalation
The flights of Russian planes are taking place in the background of the tense situation on the borders of Poland and Belarus, as several thousand migrants from West Asian countries hoping to move to the EU approached the border with Poland from the Belarusian side.
Poland has deployed thousands of troops on the border with Belarus, built a barbed-wire fence, and imposed a state of emergency on the border.
President Alexander Lukashenko advised the West to think carefully before threatening Belarus with new sanctions and closing the border with it, waving to cut off gas supplies to Europe.
