The Russian navy announced on Tuesday that it had fired supersonic anti-ship missiles at a mock target in the Sea of Japan.
According to a statement posted on its Telegram account, “Missile ships of the Pacific Fleet fired Moskit cruise missiles at a mock enemy sea target in the waters of the Sea of Japan. The target, located at a distance of about 100 kilometres, was successfully hit by a direct hit from two Moskit cruise missiles.” The P-270 Moskit missile, also known as the SS-N-22 Sunburn in NATO reporting, is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile of Soviet origin that can destroy a ship up to 120 km away.
Japan’s foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated that Tokyo would remain vigilant against Moscow’s military operations and added that they had not reported any damage following the missile launches.
Hayashi also noted that “As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, Russian forces are also becoming more active in the Far East, including Japan’s vicinities,” during a regular press conference.
The Russian strategic bomber planes
The missile launches came just a week after two Russian strategic bomber planes, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew over the Sea of Japan for more than seven hours in what Moscow described as a “planned flight.”
When asked about Russia’s plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Hayashi condemned the move and demanded that Russia and Belarus halt “such an action that would further increase tensions.”