NATO ‘scrambling fighter jets’, Kremlin claims, as Putin sends two nuclear-capable missile carriers across the Norwegian Sea

NATO has prepared fighter jets to confront two missile carriers patrolling the Norwegian Sea today, Russia claims.

The Kremlin taunted the bloc again by launching two TU-95MS aircraft to patrol the Norwegian Sea, which were escorted by a group of Su35S aircraft.

‘Fighters from abroad’ also accompanied the unit during the five-hour flight, although Moscow did not specify which Western air forces were deployed. A Ministry of Defense source told MailOnline that the RAF did not launch any aircraft in response to the flyover.

The Norwegian Sea borders Great Britain to the south – Shetland to the north, Norway to the east and Iceland to the west.

“The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace,” said Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash, commander of Russia’s Long-Range Aviation.

The flights come amid warnings from Western politicians and military commanders about the threat of Russia sparking World War III

‘Long-range pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific, Black and Baltic Seas.’

The flights come amid warnings from Western politicians and military commanders about the threat of Russia unleashing a Third World War in the coming years.

But Britain’s overstretched armed forces may be unable to fight effectively in a potential world war as chronic shortages of troops and equipment are shrouded under a ‘veil of secrecy’, MPs have warned.

In a damning report released last week, the Defense Select Committee concluded that the military is Britain’s ‘weakest service’ due to ‘significant capability gaps’ – including drastic shortages of vehicles, tanks and even ammunition.

After hitting a wall of silence while drafting their Ready For War report, MPs urged top military officials and ministers to be more transparent about the shortcomings so they can be urgently addressed.

The report further highlights problems with the war readiness of the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers, which are worth £3.5 billion.

Ukrainian soldiers light a fire with gunpowder to get warm near the city of Bakhmut

Ukrainian soldier of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army stands in a fortified position, in a secret location next to the Vuhledar front line

Firefighters try to extinguish the fire that broke out in a destroyed building after Russian shelling

Despite spending around £50 billion a year on defence, ‘sustained ongoing investment’ is needed for Britain to fight a ‘high-intensity war’, the report concludes.

Witnesses told the inquiry that the armed forces would struggle in a major conflict, claiming the British Army does not have enough new infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger tanks or adequate missile defense capabilities.

The Royal Navy is suffering from delays to a new frigate program and an ‘overstretched’ aircraft fleet, while the RAF is facing a fighter shortage, delays to new Chinook helicopters and too few pilots.

Armed forces chiefs also raised concerns about supplies being used by Ukraine, reducing the amount available to Britain.

The report warned of ‘capacity shortfalls’, with the Ministry of Defense admitting it is only recruiting five soldiers for every eight leaving.

Earlier this week, Putin told Tucker Carlson that a Russian defeat in the war he launched by invading Ukraine is “impossible” and will “never happen.”

There is also acute concern in Eastern Europe about the prospect of a re-elected Donald Trump scaling back NATO.

Putin told Carlson: “We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else – why should we?

‘We are simply not interested… There is absolutely no question of that.’

However, he previously made similar claims about using force to conquer Crimea and other parts of Ukraine.

MailOnline has contacted NATO and the UK Ministry of Defense for comment.