The department said that in order to identify air targets and prevent violations of the Russian border, Su-30SM and Su-27 fighters from the air defense forces of the Southern Military District were taken into the air.
It is noted that the crews of Russian aircraft identified the aerial targets as the EP-3E Ares electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft and the US Air Force CL-600 Challenger reconnaissance aircraft and escorted them over the Black Sea.
"Violations of the state border of Russia were not allowed," RIA Novosti reports.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the flights of Russian fighters were carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
Earlier it was reported that the Russian Su-27 fighter flew to escort the Atlantique 2 reconnaissance aircraft of the French Air Force over the Baltic Sea.