Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country is resuming long-range patrols by nuclear-capable bombers after a 15-year suspension.

Putin said 14 strategic bombers had taken off simultaneously from airfields across Russia in the early hours of Friday on long-range missions.

"I have made a decision to resume regular flights of Russian strategic aviation," Putin said in televised remarks.

"We proceed from the assumption that our partners will view the resumption of flights of Russia's strategic aviation with understanding."

The Soviet Union used to conduct long-range bomber flight with planes carrying nuclear missiles. The practice ended when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Earlier this month Russian air force generals said bomber crews had flown near the Pacific island of Guam, where the US military has a base, and "exchanged smiles" with US pilots scrambled to track them.

The Pentagon said the Russian aircraft had not come close enough to U.S. ships to prompt American aircraft to react.

n July, two Russian Tu-95 "Bear" bombers made unusually long sorties over the North Sea, leading Norway and Britain to scramble fighter jets to follow them. Russia's air force said later it was a routine flight.

MMN/HAR