Japan and Russia have reported simultaneous air operations over the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, amid a new escalation of regional surveillance.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said that fighter jets of the Northern Air Defense Force received an emergency alert over a suspected violation of Japanese airspace over the Sea of Okhotsk in the north of the country.
According to the announcement, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) planes immediately took off for interception and surveillance, emphasizing the country’s commitment to maintain a 24-hour, 365-day-a-year readiness for the protection of the territory and the safety of its citizens.
Russia released a video of the long-range strategic flight
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In parallel, the Russian Ministry of Defense (Минобороны России) announced that Long Range Aviation’s strategic bombers, the Tu-95MS they completed a planned flight of more than 11 hours over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan.
According to Moscow, the planes were escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets from the Russian Air Force and Space Force (VKS), and were followed at certain stages by fighter jets from foreign countries.
The ministry stressed that all flights were carried out in full compliance with international airspace rules, noting that such missions are regularly carried out over the Arctic, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.
Tensions and increased surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region
Although both governments describe the operations as routine and defensive in nature, the events come amid growing military activity in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to experts, the combination of the Russian strategic flights and the quick Japanese reactions clearly shows the high level of air surveillance and readiness of both countries in the increasingly sensitive geopolitical situation.
Sources: Japanese Ministry of Defense – X @jointstaffpa | Russian Ministry of Defense – Telegram @mod_russia. This content is generated using AI and reviewed by our editorial team
