Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers again threaten security near Japan’s borders: Tokyo responds with increased military patrols
Over the Pacific Ocean, Russian military aviation activity near Japan’s borders has once again been recorded.
Russian strategic bombers Tu-95MS, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, along with Su-35 fighters, have flown close to Japan’s coastline multiple times recently.
According to Japanese defense sources, on October 24, fighter jets were scrambled to escort the Russian aircraft, which flew along the Sea of Japan, forming a sort of aerial patrol line.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense published a flight route map indicating that the Tu-95s flew over waters off Japan’s western coast.
This escalation raises serious concerns in Tokyo, especially amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine.
Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi noted that Russia conducts nearly daily flights near Japanese territory, posing a threat to regional security.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the flights, stating they were planned patrols over neutral waters.
Official reports indicate that two Tu-95 bombers were accompanied by two Su-35 fighters, initially flying toward Sado Island, then changing course northward.
The incident occurred on the eve of the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s address to parliament, where she emphasized the need to bolster the country’s defense capabilities amid rising threats from Russia, China, and North Korea.
Takaichi also highlighted the importance of partnership with Ukraine, praising the courage of Ukrainians and President Volodymyr Zelensky in their fight against Russian aggression.