Russian MiG fighter jets have been seen intercepting a mock enemy cruise missile during a military exercise.

The footage shows a Russian fighter jet preparing for takeoff before the cruise missile can be seen flying across the sky. The images then appear to show a Russian fighter jet in the sky and firing missiles.

A second Russian fighter jet then appears to fire a number of missiles before the images show an explosion as the missile is intercepted.

One of the Russian fighter jets can then be seen landing as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, September 19, along with a statement claiming: 'During the 'Finval' exercise, the crews of MiG-31 fighter jets practiced intercepting a cruise missile of a simulated adversary in the skies above Chukotka.

'In the waters of the Chukotka and Bering Seas, as well as on the Chukotka Peninsula, tactical exercises of the Pacific Fleet forces are ongoing as part of 'Finval-2023' aimed at protecting the communications of the Northern Sea Route. The exercise is being conducted under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolay Evmenov.

'One of the significant episodes of the exercise was the practice of anti-air defence of the Chukotka Peninsula against airborne threats from a simulated enemy. Two standby MiG-31 interceptor fighters were launched from the Anadyr airfield for the interception of cruise missile targets. Their crews successfully destroyed the aerial targets using air-to-air missiles.

'After completing their assigned tasks, the aircraft returned to their base airfield.

'Around 10,000 military personnel and over 50 units of combat equipment are participating in the 'Finval-2023' tactical exercise, including surface ships, support vessels, submarines, naval aviation aircraft and helicopters, coastal missile complexes 'Bal' and 'Bastion', as well as high-mobility wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles.

'During the manoeuvres, successful missile launches were conducted against complex target positions in the northeastern part of the Bering Sea.

'All episodes of the exercise are defensive in nature and are aimed at enhancing the readiness of forces and troops for actions on the northeastern borders of Russia.'

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation".