Two Russian nuclear deterrent bombers have flown over the Sea of Japan.
The two Russian Tu-95 strategic aircraft conducted a routine flight over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
The flight, which lasted for more than eight hours, saw the Russian aircraft being escorted by planes from other countries at certain stages, the ministry added.
Strategic bomber planes, which form part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent, have made flights in recent months over the Black and Baltic Seas and in the Arctic.
Putin has raised the spectre of a nuclear attack as he wages war in Ukraine.
But British and other Nato allies say they have not detected any significant shift in Russia’s nuclear posture which would signal an attack was coming.
China is believed to have warned Russia against using nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Ukraine drones recently struck an oil depot in the city of Engels which supplies an airbase for Russian’s nuclear deterrent strategic bombers, leading the local governor to declare a state of emergency.
In it’s latest intelligence update on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “On 8 January 2025, Ukrainian uncrewed aerial systems reportedly struck Kristall oil depot, Russia, 8km from the Engels-2 Airbase.
“The strike caused large scale fires within the petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL) storage area of the depot, reportedly taking several days to extinguish.”
The briefing added: “A further strike was also reportedly conducted on the night of 14 January 2025, once again targeting Kristall oil depot, reigniting the fire and causing further infrastructure damage to the site.
“Analysis of imagery from 21 January 2025 highlights four assessed destroyed POL tanks and ten assessed damaged POL tanks.
“The repeated strikes indicate an increased Ukrainian ability to target Russian infrastructure.”
Ukraine has hit targets in Russia with waves of drone strikes, with some flying more than 900 miles.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have come under drone attack.
A Russian drone struck a multi-storey apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Thursday, killing four people and injuring nine, including a child, the regional authorities said.
“This is a terrible tragedy, a terrible Russian crime. It is very important that the world does not stop putting pressure on Russia for this terror,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia launched 81 drones at Ukraine overnight, damaging businesses and homes around the country, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.
The air force shot down 37 drones, 39 others did not reach their targets. It did not specify what happened to the five remaining drones.
The attack on Sumy ruined five apartments and damaged over 20 cars, authorities said.
Work on site continued into Thursday morning, with emergency services sharing pictures of rescuers sifting through the rubble.
The region borders Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August 2024, and has been regularly attacked by Russian drones.
