Russian MiG-31 fighter jet escorted a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft over the Barents Sea on Thursday to ensure it did not enter Russia’s airspace, the National Defense Management Center part of the Russian Defense Ministry said.
“On April 13, Russian airspace control detected an air target over the Barents Sea that was approaching the airspace of Russia. A MiG-31 fighter jet from the air defense forces of the Northern Fleet was tasked with identifying an air target and preventing the violation of Russia’s state border.
The crew of the Russian fighter jet identified the air target as a P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft of the Norwegian Air Force,” the statement said.
According to the center, the Russian jet escorted the Norwegian plane and then safely returned to its base airfield, and there was no violation of the Russian border.
The flight of the Russian fighter jet was carried out in strict accordance with international rules over neutral waters without crossing air routes or dangerously approaching the aircraft of a foreign state, the center added.
Meanwhile, the German government has allowed Poland to re-export MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, which were once part of the GDR (East Germany) Air Force, Der Spiegel magazine reported, citing relevant departments.
“Warsaw wants to support Ukraine with fighters from the old stocks of the GDR. Berlin has given the necessary permission for this,” the publication says.
The fact that Poland will transfer a new batch of MiG-29 fighters to the Kyiv authorities was also announced by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during his speech at the Atlantic Council.
In early April, the country’s President Andrzej Duda announced plans to supply Ukraine with 14 MiG-29 fighters, keeping the fighters upgraded to NATO standards.
Russia has repeatedly warned Western countries that the supply of arms to Ukraine does not change anything on the ground and only prolongs the conflict.
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