Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a 13-hour flight over the Arctic Ocean with mid-air refueling, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Two Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Barents and White Seas that lasted about 13 hours, the statement says.

"The aircraft of Russia’s Aerospace Force perform all their flights in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace," the ministry stressed.