Foreign fighter jets escorted nuclear-capable Russian Tu-95 bombers after the aircraft conducted a seven-hour mission over international waters in the Arctic on December 25. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the flight occurred above the Barents and Norwegian Seas north of Scandinavia as part of regularly scheduled patrols. This operation follows heightened regional tensions in mid-December when South Korea and Japan criticized joint Russian and Chinese military flights near their territories.The ministry asserted that the strategic bombers were accompanied by foreign aviation at certain stages while strictly adhering to international law during the routine operation. These developments coincide with broader geopolitical friction involving Russia and various Western nations regarding military presence in the Arctic region.Earlier instances in December saw Tokyo and Seoul scramble jets after Russian and Chinese aircraft conducted patrols that regional authorities deemed provocative.