Media: Russian warplanes enter South Korea's air defence zone Eighth violations in 10 days

On March 20, South Korea’s Defence Ministry lodged a formal protest after multiple Russian military planes entered the country's Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the East Sea, with some approaching as close as 20 kilometres to South Korea's airspace.

The South Korean military responded by scrambling fighter jets to monitor the situation, according to the ministry's statement, Caliber.Az reports, citing Yonhap.

This incident marks the eighth time since March 11 that Russian warplanes have entered KADIZ without prior notification. The repeated violations have raised tensions between the two nations. In response, South Korea summoned Col. Nikolai Marchenko, the Russian military attache at the Russian Embassy in Seoul, to express its concerns and demand preventive measures to avoid further incidents.

The air defense zone, although not considered territorial airspace, is a crucial buffer area designed to identify foreign aircraft to prevent accidental military confrontations. Despite repeated attempts by South Korea to communicate with the Russian planes, they did not respond.

This latest incursion follows a similar incident on March 15, when Russian warplanes entered the KADIZ while conducting air drills. The South Korean military has called for increased vigilance, stressing the need for diplomatic channels to address these recurring violations of its air defense space.

For the record, KADIZ serves as an important tool for South Korea to monitor foreign military activities in the region, and the frequent Russian entries have sparked ongoing concerns about regional security dynamics.

By Khagan Isayev