Incident Overview: Japan deployed fighter jets in response to two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers flying an eight-hour mission over international waters in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk, escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighters.
Broader Context: This occurrence aligns with the ongoing trend of frequent Russian military flights near Japan, with a recent contentious airspace violation in September. Despite the conflict in Ukraine, Russia persists in conducting these patrols, with comparable missions also seen near Alaska last month.