The Typhoons were "scrambled" from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray against "unidentified aircraft approaching the UK", it added.

They were supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

"The Russian aircraft types were two Tu-95 Bear H and two Tu-142 Bear F," the service said in a statement.

"Our Typhoon fighters escorted the Russian aircraft out of the UK's area of interest. At no time did the Russian bombers enter UK sovereign airspace."

An image taken from Flightradar24.com showed the refuelling tanker's involvement in the operation.

Is this related to the situation with Ukraine - or is it normal?

The RAF said it "routinely" intercepts, identifies and escorts Russian aircraft that "transit international airspace within the UK's area of interest".

An area of interest includes international airspace for which a nation holds some responsibility, such as air traffic control services.

In contrast, a sovereign airspace is that which exists above a country's territory.

The RAF said it "works closely with NATO partners to monitor such aircraft".

In November 2021, jets were launched in response to Russian TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers.

Officials said at the time that the fighters escorted the Russian aircraft out of the area of interest and that the bombers did not enter UK airspace.

A Royal Navy warship has begun to monitor two Russian naval vessels as they transit through the English Channel.

The French military said on Monday that it had monitored two Russian ships, the Soobrazitelniy and the Stoykiy, and had now handed over the responsibility to HMS Argyle, a Type 23 frigate, and the US Navy's USS Roosevelt.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence described it as a "normal response".

Tass, Russia's state news agency, reported on 24 January that the two Russian vessels had left Kaliningrad to conduct "combat exercises".

Read more:
Why is Russia worried about NATO - and what does it have to do with Ukraine?
'He absolutely will do it': Why Putin seems poised to attack Ukraine - after one of surest signs yet