Japan has issued a protest to Russia in connection with the alleged violation of the country's airspace by Russian warplanes, Kyodo Agency said on Thursday, citing the Japanese Defence Ministry, RIA Novosti reported.
According to the Japanese military authority, on Thursday two Russian Su-27 fighters violated Japanese airspace south-west of Rishiri Island, located near the island of Hokkaido at 14:59 local time. Russian aircraft were in Japan's airspace for one minute and 11 seconds. Fighters of the Japanese self-defence force were launched to intercept the Russian aircraft.
Scheduled large scale inter-specific training of the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces were conducted on Kuril Islands starting Wednesday, involving machine gun and artillery units, fighter forces, attack and army aviation, Pacific Fleet ships, as well as border guard personnel stationed on the island area.
Previously, Tokyo has repeatedly made claims about violation of its airspace by Russian military aviation. Russian Defence Ministry officials in turn denied these claims.