RAF fighter jets were scrambled to respond to a Russian military plane over the North Sea heading towards UK airspace.
Two Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland were despatched to monitor the Russian Bear-F aircraft.
The Russian reconnaissance plane had been detected in the UK’s “area of interest” but it did not enter UK sovereign airspace, said the Ministry of Defence in London.
Armed Forces minister, Luke Pollard stressed: “Our adversaries should be in no doubt of our steadfast determination and formidable ability to protect the UK.
“The Royal Navy and RAF have once again shown they stand ready to defend our country at a moment’s notice and I pay tribute to the professionalism and bravery of those involved in these latest operations.”
Vladimir Putin’s military is believed to be regularly testing the defence readiness of Nato countries including Britain as he pursues his war in Ukraine.
The North Sea incident on Thursday comes after the Royal Navy shadowed Russian military vessels passing through the Channel in recent days.
The Typhoons, which were supported by a Voyager refuelling aircraft, are part of the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert.
They are at high-readiness 24/7, 365 days a year ready to defend and protect UK airspace.
The scrambling follows British warships, helicopters, and long-range maritime patrol aircraft keeping close watch on the progress of two separate groups of Russian ships as they sailed in opposite directions, one bound for the Atlantic and the other towards the Baltic, said the MoD.
It stressed that this intervention “ensured the ships acted in a safe and non-threatening manner”.
In the Channel, HMS Iron Duke and tanker RFA Tideforce shadowed three Russian vessels, which were led by the new frigate Admiral Golovko.
The Golovko was accompanied by oceanographic research vessel Yantar and supporting tanker Vyazma, according to British defence sources.
All three had been tracked by the Norwegian Navy before British forces took over.
The Duke class frigate and Tide-class tanker, supported by an RAF P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, followed the ships through the Dover Strait and Channel before handing over monitoring duties to the French Navy, the MoD added.
As the Golovko continued her journey, Iron Duke took over shadowing duties of the second Russian group.
Frigate Neustrashimy and her support ship, tanker Akademik Pashin were travelling to their home port in the Baltic.
Iron Duke remained in contact with the pair back through the Channel and into the North Sea before handing over to a Dutch warship.
This is the second time in three months that the Royal Navy and RAF have detected Russian ships and aircraft within a week of each other close to the UK.
In September, Royal Navy warships closely shadowed the Russian Navy as four of its vessels sailed through the Channel and the North Sea.
Two RAF Typhoons were also scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in mid-September, supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, to intercept two Russian Bear-F aircraft operating near the UK.
