Japan spotted six Russian ships, three of which were military vessels near Kyushu, Japan, and traveling through the Tsushima Strait this week, according to the Japanese Joint Staff on Wednesday.
The Russian ships included three commercial vessels, an Altay-class replenishment oiler, a Utaloy-class destroyer, and a Silva-class rescue tug which passed through the strait around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, traveling toward the Sea of Japan according to a news released by the Japanese Joint Staff.
At 9 a.m. on Tuesday Japan spotted the ships about 50 miles off the coast o the Danjo Islands about 130 miles southwest of the Sasebo Naval Base according to the press release.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force sent out a P-1 patrol aircraft from the Atsugi Air Base along with the guided-missile destroyer JS Shirataka from Sasebo to monitor the passage of the vessels.
That wasn't the only vessel, however, that was spotted by Japan. A Chinese navy reconnaissance vessel was reported off the Japanese coast this week as well, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and about 100 miles off of Amami Oshima, Japan, also according to the Japanese Joint Staff.
After that, a surveillance vessel traveled east between Amami Oshima and Yokoate island which is around 175 miles northeast of Okinawa. A P-1 replenishment vessel JS Hamana monitored their passage.
The three commercial ships owned by Russia were affiliated with the Gazprom which is a natural gas producer. The military vessels were likely escorts for the commercial ships according to Kyodo News.
The Russian ships included three commercial vessels, an Altay-class replenishment oiler, a Utaloy-class destroyer, and a Silva-class rescue tug which passed through the strait around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, traveling toward the Sea of Japan according to a news released by the Japanese Joint Staff.
At 9 a.m. on Tuesday Japan spotted the ships about 50 miles off the coast o the Danjo Islands about 130 miles southwest of the Sasebo Naval Base according to the press release.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force sent out a P-1 patrol aircraft from the Atsugi Air Base along with the guided-missile destroyer JS Shirataka from Sasebo to monitor the passage of the vessels.
That wasn't the only vessel, however, that was spotted by Japan. A Chinese navy reconnaissance vessel was reported off the Japanese coast this week as well, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and about 100 miles off of Amami Oshima, Japan, also according to the Japanese Joint Staff.
After that, a surveillance vessel traveled east between Amami Oshima and Yokoate island which is around 175 miles northeast of Okinawa. A P-1 replenishment vessel JS Hamana monitored their passage.
The three commercial ships owned by Russia were affiliated with the Gazprom which is a natural gas producer. The military vessels were likely escorts for the commercial ships according to Kyodo News.