“The crew of the Russian fighter identified the target as a US Air Force P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft and escorted it over the Barents Sea,” the statement said.
After turning the American military aircraft from the Russian border, the MiG-31 returned to the airfield.
The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
Earlier, the Russian Su-27 fighter flew to escort the US strategic bomber over the Baltic Sea.