Tu-95MS strategic bombers took part in an exercise, which included eight launches of cruise missiles. An official Air Force representative was reported as saying that the launches were part of a larger exercise, which lasted four days and involved 15 Tu-95 crews and 12 crews of Il-78 refuelling tankers (as well as Su-27 support planes). It is not clear, however, how many aircraft took part in the exercise or whether all launches were conducted last night, as the report seems to imply.