INTERNATIONAL: Russia's Ministry of Defence has shown a video on Wednesday depicting French warplanes in air supposedly above the Black Sea's international waters. The Ministry has stated that jets were heading towards the Russian border, and several Russian military jets Su-27 have escorted them until they turned around.

France's Armed Forces Ministry have said earlier on Wednesday that a Russian jet escorted French warplanes that were carrying out a NATO observation mission in international airspace over the Black Sea.

"A Russian Sukhoi 27 fighter plane approached, then followed our planes during most of their transit over the Black Sea," Army spokesman Pascal Ianni has said. "This interaction took place in a professional manner and without representing any danger and this kind of situation is usual. It neither hindered the mission of French planes nor their freedom of navigation in international airspace."

Russian military aircraft has scrambled to escort French Rafale and Mirage fighter jets flying over the Black Sea. The interaction is not uncommon with similar incidents previously happening but comes amid tensions between the West and Russia in the region.