Standard training activities? Russian military aircraft buzz Alaska, Canada, Sweden, UK

Brett T. | 7:30 PM on September 19, 2014

Norad spox: "we think these are standard training activities…but we'll continue to monitor all air activity approaching American airspace"

— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) September 19, 2014

That sounds like a wise decision.

Russian aircraft penetrating NATO airspace nothing new; but number of countries simultaneously in same time period is. Comes days after…

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) September 19, 2014

… Putin threatened to invade 5 NATO countries.

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) September 19, 2014

Waiting for Obama to say: "US has no national interest in being invaded by Russia."

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) September 19, 2014

So, just how many countries are we talking about?

In the past 24 hours jets have been scrambled to confront Russian aircraft in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada and the United States.

— Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) September 19, 2014

ALERT NORAD: US intercepted 6 Russian planes this week that flew within 55 nautical miles of Alaskan coastline… http://t.co/peT0P4CVPO

— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) September 19, 2014

Russian nuclear bombers buzz Alaska http://t.co/jI1dxhx9ap #military #defense #security pic.twitter.com/emQqYycnWN

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) September 19, 2014

Update: Four Russian nuke bombers flew within 50 miles of Alaskan, Canadian coasts timed to Ukrainian leader visit. http://t.co/kPT4T7udFu

— Bill Gertz (@BillGertz) September 19, 2014

The Free Beacon reports:

One defense official said the Russian bomber activity appeared timed to the visit to the United States and Canada by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The Ukrainian leader was in Ottawa for meetings with Canadian leaders on Wednesday. He met with President Obama on Thursday.
Ukraine is locked in a battle with Moscow over the Russian military annexation of Crimea and continuing backing of pro-Russian Ukrainian militias in eastern Ukraine.