MOSCOW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers carried out a planned flight over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The bombers were accompanied by the Russian navy's Su-33 fighter jets during the flight, which lasted more than four hours, the ministry said in a statement.

"All flights by aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces are conducted in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace," it added.