The flyover of Russian anti-submarine planes in an area of the sea where the U.S. Navy and Japan conducted joint military exercises did not violate the rules of international law, according Russia’s Pacific Fleet commanders. The spokesman of the Pacific Fleet Roman Martov commented that the Il-38 aircrafts were carrying out their planned missions in a sector of the sea, where the fleet regularly operates. Thus, Russia did not break international law relating the use of airspace and did not violate flight regulations.

Foreign media outlets have reported on the incident, quoting the statements of the Ministry of Defense of Japan to the effect that two Russian Il-38 planes were found in the area of U.S. and Japanese exercises in the Sea of Japan. According to the Japanese Ministry, the exercises were terminated because Japanese and American naval commanders feared that the Russian pilots could collect secret information, including radar frequencies.