Russia intercepts US ‘spy planes’ over Black Sea

The Russian Defense Ministry has released video footage of what it says was an interception over neutral waters of three U.S. planes that were flying toward its border over the Black Sea.

The ministry said it scrambled a Su-30 fighter plane on Friday that approached the U.S. planes "at a safe distance," after which the U.S. planes reportedly changed course away from Russia's border.

The U.S. planes included a RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, a P-8 Poseidon, and a KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft, according to Russian authorities.

The ministry added that the Russian fighter plane had strictly followed all international safety regulations during the interception.

This comes after two Russian aircraft were intercepted late Wednesday when they came within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of Unimak Island along Alaska's Aleutian chain, according to US military.

US authorities said on Thursday that Wednesday's interception of the Russian planes marked the fifth time this month that such an intercept has taken place.

Since Russia resumed long-range aviation activities in 2007, there has been an average of around seven intercepts a year, though the number in any given year has been zero to 15, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

(Image Credit Pixabay) (Representative Image)