MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. More than 20 long-range air force crew, including Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and Tu-22M3 bombers, have been redeployed at tactical airfields as part of the ongoing snap combat readiness check, the Russian defense ministry said.

"More than 20 long-range air force crews have been redeployed at tactical airfields," the ministry said.

"The crews have been redeployed from their home airfields in the Amur, Irkutsk, Saratov, Kaluga and Murmansk regions to tactical airfields within the snap combat readiness check of the Air Forces."

"Pilots of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Il-78 re-fueling aircraft performed long flights having covered a distance of several thousand kilometers. Now they are ready for performing designated tasks," the ministry said.