Russian Strategic Bombers Conduct 4-Hour Patrol Flight Over Belarus

[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine war crisis, AP News reported on the 5th (local time) that Russia sent nuclear strategic bombers to neighboring Belarus for patrol flights.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that on the same day, two long-range bombers Tu-22M3 capable of carrying nuclear weapons conducted a 4-hour patrol flight mission in coordination with the Belarusian Air Force. The bombers returned to their Russian base after completing the mission, the Ministry added.

The patrol flights of the long-range bombers occurred during joint military exercises between Russia and its ally Belarus. Russia also sent Tu-22M3 bombers to Belarus for patrol flights in December last year.

Belarus, a pro-Russian country, shares a border with northern Ukraine. There are expectations that if Russia invades Ukraine, it may attack northern Ukraine via Belarus.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that Russia has reportedly sent weapons including tanks, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and drones along with 9,000 tons of fuel by land to the Donbas region, the eastern conflict zone of Ukraine.

Donbas is a region bordering Russia, known as a powder keg where pro-Russian separatists have claimed independence from Ukraine and clashed with government forces since 2014.

Russia denies the possibility of invading Ukraine and demands that Western countries, including the United States, promise to halt NATO's eastward expansion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.