International Airspace: Russian bombers encounter South Korean fighter jets during air patrol

M/S Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber, undisclosed location
W/S Russian Tu-95MS bomber taking off
W/S Russian Tu-95MS bomber taking off
W/S Plane on runway
W/S Russian Tu-95MS bomber taking off
W/S Bomber in air
W/S Bomber
M/S View from plane
W/S Bomber
W/S Bomber
W/S South Korean fighter jets seen from Russian plane
W/S South Korean fighter jets seen from Russian plane
W/S Bomber landing
Russian bomber landing
M/S Russian Tu-95MS bomber
M/S Russian Tu-95MS bomber
SCRIPT
Russian Defence Ministry released footage on Tuesday showing two Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers flying over the Sea of Japan and encountering what appears to be a pair of South Korean fighter jets in international airspace.
According to the ministry, the Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers were conducting the first ever joint long-range air patrol mission with two Chinese Xian H-6 bombers following a pre-planned route over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.
“The aircraft of both countries acted strictly in accordance with the provisions of international law,” the MoD said in a press release.
In a statement, the ministry accused the South Korean jets of “unprofessional manoeuvres while crossing the course of the bombers, thus putting their safety at risk.”
Earlier in the day Seoul claimed that it had ordered multiple F15Ks and F16Ks to intercept the Russian aircraft which allegedly violated South Korean airspace twice. The South Koreans also claimed that the jets fired warning shots during the mission.
Moscow says the encounter took place over 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the isles of Dokdo (known as Takeshima in Japan), and that no violation of aerial borders by Russian planes took place. It also denies any warning shots were fired.