MOSCOW, May  25, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Russia said Thursday it had sent fighter 
jets to stop two US strategic bomber planes from "violating the state border" 
over the Baltic Sea, in the second such incident this week.

 The Russian defence ministry said it had scrambled Su-27 and Su-35 fighter 
jets, saying it identified "the air targets as two US Air Force B-1B strategic 
bombers". 

It was the second such interception reported this week. 

 "The violation of the state border was prevented," the defence ministry 
said.

After the manoeuvre, the Russian fighters "returned safely to their air 
base."

 It added that the flight was "carried out in strict accordance with 
international rules for the use of airspace."

 It is the latest in a series of similar incidents, with Moscow saying it 
had intercepted several Western jets near the Baltic in recent weeks.