Alaska

Alaska map shows where Russian, Chinese nuclear bombers circled U.S. shores

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2024

Alaska map shows where Russian, Chinese nuclear bombers circled U.S. shores

A rough map released by a pro-Kremlin blogger on Sunday purported to show how a formation of Russian and Chinese nuclear-capable bombers circled the U.S. coast off Alaska last week.

The Rybar military channel on Telegram suggested the two Russian Tu-95MS and two Chinese H-6K strategic bombers took off together from Anadyr airfield in Russia’s eastern Chukotka region, which would mark the first time assets from both air forces have shared a base of operations.

U.S. and Canadian fighter aircraft under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted the air group late on July 24 inside the Alaska air defense zone. The activity was “not seen as a threat,” NORAD said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the air patrol—the first time Chinese warplanes had approached Alaska—came within 200 miles of the U.S. coast, presumably in the Bering Sea. He said the joint operation was “not a surprise.”

After yet another sign of military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, Russia’s state television was bullish about the pointed maneuvers, and Rybar, the military blogger, called for the patrols to be regularized.

Russia’s Defense Ministry later released footage of what it said was a five-hour patrol in the Chukchi and Bering seas in the North Pacific, escorted by Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S jets.

Rybar’s post, however, suggested the activity took place in two parts, with NORAD aircraft—U.S. Air Force F-16s and F-35s and Canadian CF-18s—scrambled to intercept the air group north of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

The mixed-use Anadyr military airfield has long been a staging ground for long-range aviation units including the Tu-95MS. The blogger’s map indicates Russia’s cruise missile bombers were flown there before the mission, likely from Ukrainka air base in the Amur region bordering China.

And while there was little information about the Chinese long-ranger bombers involved in the now annual air drill, the planes could have been dispatched from the mixed-use Anqing air base, where is located an H-6K aircraft division, under the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command.

NORAD Jets Intercept Russia, Chinese Bombers — North American Aerospace Defense Command CF-18 Hornets prepare to take off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska during regular NORAD operations to positively identify and intercept two Russian Tu-95 and two Chinese H-6 military aircraft operating near Alaska on July 24.
Senior Airman Julia Lebens/U.S. Air Force

In a more detailed release on Monday—the first since NORAD’s initial announcement—the Alaskan Command said the air intercept mission was carried out by aircraft from Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Air defense identification zones, or ADIZ, are not considered sovereign airspace, but the self-declared areas—found extensively in Asia—are used to identify and control approaching foreign aircraft.

The Tu-95 and H-6 bombers were escorted “over international waters until they exited the ADIZ,” the statement said.

Left to right: A Chinese air force H-6 strategic bomber is intercepted by U.S. F-16 and F-35 and Canadian CF-18 fighter aircraft under the direction of the North American Aerospace and Defense Command, or NORAD,…

NORAD

“The vastness of Alaska brings unique challenges when it comes to ensuring the United States and Canada are defended,” Maj. Brent Rist of the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Eielson was quoted as saying.

“To put things into perspective, it’s similar to fighter jets taking off from Denver to protect D.C. and then fly back. This distance exposes all assets to complex scenarios and risk, especially with weather in Alaska,” Rist said in the Alaskan Command release.

The command said the intercept was supported by a number of other assets including airborne early warning and refueling aircraft.

The Russian and Chinese defense ministries could not be reached for comment after hours. Last week, both governments said the joint training did not target any third party.

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Alaska

Musician performs under the aurora in Nenana — without gloves, in 17 degrees

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Musician performs under the aurora in Nenana — without gloves, in 17 degrees

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A musician with Alaska Native roots recorded an hour-long live set in Interior Alaska beneath the aurora.

Chastity Ashley, a drummer, vocalist and DJ who performs under the name Neon Pony, celebrated a year since she traveled to Nenana to record a live music set beneath the northern lights for her series Beats and Hidden Retreats.

Ashley, who has Indigenous roots in New Mexico, said she was drawn to Alaska in part because of the role drums play in Alaska Native culture. A handmade Alaskan hand drum, brought to her by a man from just outside Anchorage, was incorporated into the performance in February 2025.

Recording in the cold

The team spent eight days in Nenana waiting for the aurora to appear. Ashley said the lights did not come out until around 4 a.m., and she performed a continuous, uninterrupted hour-long set in 17-degree weather without gloves.

“It was freezing. I couldn’t wear gloves because I’m actually playing, yeah, hand drums and holding drumsticks. And there was ice underneath my feet,” Ashley said.

“So, I had to really utilize my balance and my willpower and my ability to just really immerse in the music and let go and make it about the celebration of what I was doing as opposed to worrying about all the other elements or what could go wrong.”

She said she performed in a leotard to allow full range of motion while drumming, DJing and singing.

Filming on Nenana tribal land

Ashley said she did not initially know the filming location was on indigenous land. After local authorities told her the decision was not theirs to make, she contacted the Nenana tribe directly for permission.

“I went into it kind of starting to tell them who I was and that I too was a part of a native background,” Ashley said. “And they just did not even care. They’re like, listen, we’re about to have a party for one of our friends here. Go and do what you like.”

Ashley said the tribe gave her full permission to film on the reservation, and that the aurora footage seen in the episode was captured there.

Seeing the aurora for the first time

Ashley said the Nenana performance marked her first time seeing the northern lights in person.

“It felt as if I were awake in a dream,” she said. “It really doesn’t seem real.”

She said she felt humbled and blessed to perform beneath the aurora and to celebrate its beauty and grandeur through her music.

“I feel incredibly humbled and blessed that not only did I get to take part in seeing something like that, but to play underneath it and celebrate its beauty and its grandeur.”

The Alaska episode is the second installment of Beats and Hidden Retreats, which is available on YouTube at @NeonPony. Ashley said two additional episodes are in production and she hopes to make it back up to Alaska in the future.

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Alaska

Over $150K worth of drugs seized from man in Juneau, police say

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Over 0K worth of drugs seized from man in Juneau, police say

JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) – An Alaska drug task force seized roughly $162,000 worth of controlled substances during an operation in Juneau Thursday, according to the Juneau Police Department.

Around 3 p.m. Thursday, investigators with the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) approached 50-year-old Juneau resident Jermiah Pond in the Nugget Mall parking lot while he was sitting in his car, according to JPD.

A probation search of the car revealed a container holding about 7.3 gross grams of a substance that tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine, as well as about 1.21 gross grams of a substance that tested presumptively positive for fentanyl.

As part of the investigation, investigators executed a search warrant at Pond’s residence, during which they found about 46.63 gross grams of ketamine, 293.56 gross grams of fentanyl, 25.84 gross grams of methamphetamine and 25.5 gross grams of MDMA.

In all, it amounted to just less than a pound of drugs worth $162,500.

Investigators also seized $102,640 in cash and multiple recreational vehicles believed to be associated with the investigation.

Pond was lodged on charges of second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, five counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a substance and an outstanding felony probation warrant.

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Alaska

Sand Point teen found 3 days after going missing in lake

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Sand Point teen found 3 days after going missing in lake

SAND POINT, Alaska (KTUU) – A teenage boy who was last seen Monday when the canoe he was in tipped over has been found by a dive team in a lake near Sand Point, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Alaska’s News Source confirmed with the person, who is close to the search efforts, that the dive team found 15-year-old Kaipo Kaminanga deceased Thursday in Red Cove Lake, located a short drive from the town of Sand Point on the Aleutian Island chain.

Kaminanga was last seen canoeing with three other friends on Monday when the boat tipped over.

A search and rescue operation ensued shortly after.

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team posted on Facebook Thursday night that they were able to “locate and recover” Kaminanga at around 5 p.m. Thursday.

“We are glad we could bring closure to his family, friends and community,” the post said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more details become available.

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