"The crews of the MiG-31BM fighter-interceptors of the separate mixed aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet took up an experimental combat duty to protect the state border of the Russian Federation in the airspace on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago," Interfax quotes the message.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law according to which the Northern Fleet of Russia from January 1, 2021 is considered an interspecific strategic territorial association of the armed forces.

The Northern Fleet will carry out the tasks of the military district.