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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Beth Cruse

American B-52 bombers fly over Bristol amid crisis in Ukraine

Two American bomber planes have passed over Bristol this morning (Wednesday, March 2) as RAF Tankers continue to fly out of Brize Norton while the Russian offensive continues.

According to aviation website adsbexchange.com, two Boeing B-52 Stratofortress crafts left RAF Fairford at around 9.40am, flew over Bristol and the west country, and are currently heading north over the English Channel as of 10.45am. It's unclear where the jets, with call signs FEAR31 and FEAR32, are headed, but Gloucestershire Live reports they are travelling at over 467mph and are leading a 'spectacular sight' in the sky.

It comes after the Prime Minister visited RAF Brize Norton on Saturday, when he said Britain would send more arms to Ukraine. The huge bombers are run by the US Air Force and have been in service for around six decades.

Also read: Russia-Ukraine war LIVE: Huge explosion in Kharkiv as thousands fight to get on last trains - updates

The jets have been used for heavy bombing missions but also are capable of carrying nuclear payloads. RAF Tankers have also left Brize Norton this morning and are heading north-west.

The British Airbuses have been coming in and out of the Oxfordshire base for days, helping refuel Typhoon jets over eastern Europe as the Ukraine crisis continues. It comes as US President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union address to announce US airspace was closed to Russian flights, adding his administration would be joining the UK and other allies in pursuing the Russian oligarchs and “corrupt leaders who built billions of dollars off (Vladimir Putin’s) violent regime”.

Following his trip to Poland and Estonia, Mr Johnson will address the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions today (March 2), during which he is likely be pressed on further action the Government could take on sanctioning Russian oligarchs and supporting Ukrainian refugees. As the Prime Minister returns from meeting British troops on Nato’s border with Russia, the Foreign Office is expected to follow suit by announcing further financial sanctions on Moscow banks and also ban all Russia-linked ships from docking at UK ports.

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Liz Truss said the measures, which include prohibiting UK individuals and entities from providing financial services to Russia’s central bank, were designed to “degrade” Russia’s economy.

Read the latest updates from Ukraine here.

READ MORE: Ex-NATO Commander warns military intervention into Ukraine would be 'quickest way' to cause WW3

READ MORE: RAF Fairford and Brize Norton live: Military planes speed towards Europe amid Ukraine Russian war

READ MORE: Four RAF Typhoon jets pass over Bristol in tight formation

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