Concern over Russian aircraft 'probing UK air space'

Vladimir Putin claims some countries would like to see Russia dismantled in the same way as Yugoslavia.

During an annual televised address from the Kremlin, the Russian president accused Western nations of acting "cynically and aggressively" in their response to the Ukraine crisis.

He also claimed American plans for an anti-ballistic missile shield in Europe were a threat to Russia.

Read: EU to discuss more sanctions against Russia

An alert over 'extremely aggressive' probing of UK airspace comes in the wake of Nato reporting an increase in the number of Russian flights through EU airspace.

In October, RAF fighters were scrambled to intercept a pair of Russian long-range bombers over the North Sea, as Nato marked an "unusual" spike in Russian military flights in European airspace. Typhoon fighter jets from RAF Lossiemouth were scrambled to track a pair of Tu-95 Bear H bombers through UK airspace.

Nato radar picked up several Russian aircraft formations carrying out "significant military manoeuvres" from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Read: Tensions high as British jets probe Russian spy plane in eastern Europe

Government officials have said they are concerned by a sharp increase in Russian military flights close to Britain's borders, which they say were designed to test its air defences.

"The extremely aggressive probing of our air space by Russian aircraft is an issue of concern to us," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told a committee of lawmakers.

Britain is concerned by 'extremely aggressive' Russian testing of its airspace, officials have said.