The Kremlin’s flying of Russian strategic bomber aircraft around Britain and Ireland on three occasions recently has certainly been noticed, particularly by Britain’s RAF and Nato. ‘Routine training missions’The Russians dismiss this talk, saying the flights are nothing more than “routine training missions”. The Russian aircraft were identified as Tupolev TU-95 ‘Bear’ bombers, which are also deployed as long-range maritime patrol planes. Flying bombers around Ireland feels like a move straight out of the Putin playbook and should be taken seriously. Iveagh House should use diplomatic channels, through the EU and elsewhere, to make clear to Russia that it must not continue.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2020 00:56 UTC