British warplanes were scrambled today to intercept two Russian long-range bombers flying close to British airspace, The Times understands.
The quick reaction alert by two Typhoon fighter jets was deployed from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
It was not immediately clear where the Russian planes were spotted.
The scramble came as a British warship monitored a Russian destroyer and two other vessels that were passing through the English Channel.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Udaloy class destroyer Severomorsk, a tanker and a support ship passed through the waters while returning from the Mediterranean.
They are being monitored by HMS Argyll and are due to leave later.
The MoD said no exercises were seen. Earlier reports had suggested the vessels were set to carry out