MOSCOW,    (Xinhua) - Four Russian fighter jets intercepted three US strategic bombers over the Black Sea on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Air defense units of Russia's Southern Military District detected three air targets approaching the Russian state border over the neutral waters of the Black Sea, the ministry's Zvezda broadcasting service said.

Two Su-27 fighters and two Su-30 fighters of the Southern Military District were scrambled to intercept the targets, it added.

Crews of the fighter jets identified the aerial objects as three US B-52H strategic bombers, Zvezda said.

After the US planes flew away from the Russian state border, the Russian jets safely returned to their airfield, it said.

In the last few weeks, Russian fighter jets were scrambled regularly to intercept US planes.   ■