Moscow: Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers successfully completed an 11-hour flight over the Sea of Japan, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday. The long-range strategic missile carriers were escorted by Russian Aerospace Forces' Su-35S and Su-30SM aircraft during the operation.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the flight took place over neutral waters and that the bombers were occasionally accompanied by foreign fighters. The ministry affirmed that all activities complied with international airspace regulations. Regular flights over the neutral waters of regions including the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black and Baltic Seas, and the Pacific Ocean are a part of the long-range aviation missions of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Ministry of Defense of Japan responded to the flight by scrambling its fighter jets, as indicated in their official statement, which also included a map outlining the route of the Russian aircraft. Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi commented on social media, expressing concern over Russia's continuing military activities in proximity to Japan, especially amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Tu-95MS bombers are integral to the long-range aviation segment of the Russian Aerospace Forces and play a crucial role in the nuclear triad, which also includes submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles.