 Russia claims interception of U.S. bombers. Pentagon responds. Russia has claimed that two U.S. strategic bombers were approaching the Russian border over the Baltic Sea while the Pentagon responds that there was interaction between two of its B-1 bombers and Russian aircraft. According to Russia's National Defense Management Center, two U.S. strategic i.e. capable of carrying nuclear weapons, bombers were previously spotted near Russian airspace over the Baltic Sea. In response, a Russian SU-27 fighter jet took off. The Defense Ministry did not specify when the incident took place. The crew of the Russian fighter jet classified the air targets as two U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bombers and took up the established combat duty zone in the air. The center said. After ousting the foreign military aircraft from the state border of the Russian Federation, the Russian fighter returned to its airfield. The Russian military said. According to CNN, the Pentagon confirmed that there was an interaction between two of its B-1 bombers and Russian aircraft. My understanding is that it was a safe and professional interaction with Russian aircraft, so nothing significant to report on that front. Pentagon Press Secretary, Air Force Brigadier, General Pat Ryder said.