2 russian strategic bombers fly along alaska, canada coasts

from itar-tass: Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers, within the scope of a long-range aviation drill, flew along the coasts of Alaska and Canada and returned to their home airfield via the North Pole on Thursday, Air Force spokesman Col Alexander Drobyshevsky told Itar-Tass.

"A pair of Tu-95MS planes flew along a large range along the coasts of Alaska and Canada and, returned home via the North Pole. The bombers were refueled in mid air by an Il-78 tanker aircraft. The average flight duration made up some 17 hours. The aircraft flew more than 13,000 kilometers," Drobyshevsky said...

"The flights by long-range aviation were made according to international rules of the use of air space, over neutral waters, without violating the borders of other states," Drobyshevsky said.

The long-range aviation exercise began on September 18 and will run through September 21.

Russia resumed patrolling by long-range aviation in remote areas after a 17-year pause, per decision by the supreme commander-in-chief, President Vladimir Putin.

Russian long-range aircraft have flown to the air space of remote areas several times in the past two months.