THE government scrambled jets to monitor Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which had flown along the edge of the airspace up its coast.
Russia’s Defence Ministry, in a statement reported by state-owned RIA news agency, confirmed that its Tu-95 bombers had been escorted by jets during what it described as a routine patrol flight over neutral waters.
The incident took place hours before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged in her first speech to parliament since taking office to accelerate a defence buildup. Takaichi said Russia’s military activities, along with those of China and North Korea, were posing a “serious concern”.
The Ministry of Defence released a map showing the flight path of the Russian planes off the west coast over the Sea of Japan. It said the two Tu-95 bombers were accompanied by two Su-35 fighters and had initially flown towards Sado Island before turning northward.
“Russia conducts daily military operations around our country while invading Ukraine – this is the reality,” Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi wrote in an X post. — Reuters
