Japan and Russia report simultaneous air operations over the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, amid renewed escalation of regional surveillance.
On Friday 24 October 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that fighters from the Northern Air Defense Force were emergency mobilized following an alleged violation of Japanese airspace over the Sea of Okhotsk, north of the archipelago.
According to the statement, the aircraft of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) took off immediately to intercept and monitor, reinforcing the country’s commitment to maintaining readiness 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to protect the territory and ensure the safety of citizens.
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In parallel, the Russian Ministry of Defense (Минобороны России) announced that long-range strategic bombers Tu-95MS they performed a planned flight of more than 11 hours over neutral waters of the Sea of Japan.
According to Moscow, the planes were escorted by fighters Su-35S e Su-30SM of the Russian Aero-Space Forces (VKS), and in some places they were accompanied by fighters from foreign countries.
The ministry said that all flights were conducted in full compliance with international rules on the use of airspace, underlining that such missions are also regularly carried out over the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific, Black Sea and Baltic Sea.
Tensions and heightened surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region
While both governments describe the operations as routine and defensive, the incidents come against a backdrop of increased military activity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Experts point out that the combination of Russian strategic flights and rapid Japanese responses highlights the high level of surveillance and air readiness maintained by both countries in an increasingly delicate geopolitical scenario.
Sources: Ministry of Defense of Japan – X @jointstaffpa | Ministry of Defense of Russia – Telegram @mod_russia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
