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Japanese defence ministry says two Russian fighters have violated Japan’s air space

Japan’s self-defence forces scrambled fighters in response, according to the Japanese defence ministry

TOKYO, February 7 (Itar-Tass) - Two Russian fighter jets on Thursday violated Japan’s air space near the Island of Rishiri, northwest of Hokkaido. Japan’s self-defence forces scrambled fighters in response, according to the Japanese defence ministry.

According to the Japanese defence ministry, the incident took place at 15:59 local time (09:59 Moscow time). No further details were provided.

The last violation of Japan’s air space by Russian jets was reported in 2008. A Russian border service’s An-72 plane entered Japan’s air space near the Island of Rebun northwest of Hokkaido when it was chasing a poacher ship in Russia’s territorial waters.