Russian bombers fly over Belarus amid Ukraine tensions

An instructor trains Rumia, 59, a member of Ukraine’s Territorial DefenCe Forces, close to Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/ap)

Russia on Saturday sent two long-range nuclear-capable bombers on patrol over its ally Belarus amid spiralling tensions over Ukraine.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that the Tu-22M3 bombers practised interaction with the Belarusian air force and air defence assets during a four-hour mission.