South Korea scrambles jets after Russian military planes enter air defense zone

South Korea's military scrambled fighter jets on Wednesday in response to Russian military aircraft entering its air defense zone over the East Sea, marking the second such incursion in recent weeks. The incident further strains relations between Seoul and Moscow, which have deteriorated since South Korea joined Western sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and as Moscow strengthens ties with North Korea.

The South Korean defense ministry stated that multiple Russian aircraft entered and exited the air defense identification zone without violating sovereign airspace. An air defense identification zone is a buffer area where countries require foreign aircraft to identify themselves for security purposes, though there is no legal obligation for military aircraft to notify the relevant country beforehand.

This event follows a similar incursion in late June when over a dozen Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered South Korea's air defense zone. At the time, Beijing and Moscow described the flights as a "strategic air patrol" and part of normal military cooperation, not directed against third countries. However, South Korea lodged protests with both Beijing and Moscow, demanding measures to prevent future occurrences.

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South Korea's military detected the Russian aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any contingency.