The Russian Defense Ministry announced today that Russian fighter jets prevented two US strategic bombers from breaching the state border over the Barents Sea.

After detecting an aerial target approaching Russia’s border, the military immediately took off MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters, the ministry said in a statement. The MiGs identified the aircraft as two US B-52H strategic bombers.

“As the Russian fighter jets approached, the US strategic bombers adjusted their flight path … and subsequently moved away from the state borders of the Russian Federation,” the ministry said.

Russian warplanes conducted the flight in accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral territorial waters, he added.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment after hours.

Russia has reported similar incidents in the past when its planes encountered military planes from NATO countries flying near its border at a time of high tension over the war in Ukraine.