The Northern Fleet’s MiG-31 fighters have practiced interception of a hypothetical enemy’s aircraft at an altitude of more than 13,000 meters over the Barents Sea, the fleet’s press service has said.

"The crews of MiG-31 fighters of the Northern Fleet’s separate combined air regiment have practiced interception of a hypothetical enemy in the stratosphere. According to the drills’ scenario airspace monitoring means detected an air target approaching Russia’s state border over the Barents Sea," the news release reads.

Two MiG-31 fighter jets of the Northern Fleet's air defense on duty crews were scrambled.

"The crews identified the air target and escorted it over the Barents Sea, forcing the hypothetical intruder to turn away from Russia’s state border," the press service said.