Russian strategic bombers fly over Sea of Japan, Russian defense ministry says

Above, a Tupolev Tu-95MS bomber aircraft flying during the Grom-2022 Strategic Deterrence Force exercise at an undefined location in Russia on Feb. 19, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry/AFP)
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  • The flight lasted more than six hours and the bombers were escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets

MOSCOW: Russian Tu-95MS nuclear-capable strategic bombers carried out a scheduled flight over neutral waters in the Sea of Japan, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The flight lasted more than six hours and the bombers were escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets, it said.

The latest Russian military maneuvers over the Sea of Japan come amidst heightened geopolitical tensions in Northeast Asia. Moscow has been steadily increasing its strategic bomber patrols and naval drills in coordination with China, moves widely seen as a challenge to U.S. and allied influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan, which has grown more assertive in strengthening its security ties with Washington and regional partners, views such incursions as both provocative and destabilizing.