Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that it scrambled fighter jets after two Russian patrol aircraft were detected flying in circles around the country.

Although the Russian planes did not enter Japanese airspace, their proximity raised significant concerns. This incident marks the first such military activity around Japan since 2019, when Russian bombers breached Japanese airspace.

The Russian Tu-142 aircraft were tracked traveling from the sea between Japan and South Korea towards the southern Okinawa region, according to Digi24.

They then proceeded north over the Pacific Ocean, reaching the northern island of Hokkaido. In response, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force launched an urgent interception of the Russian planes.

The Russian aircraft also flew over the disputed Kuril Islands, known as the “Northern Territories” in Japan.