Russia conducted missile exercises near the Kuril Islands
Russia conducted rare missile drills involving naval vessels, a nuclear submarine, and a land-based launcher near the Kuril Islands, which Japan also claims. The maneuvers added another layer of tension to relations between Moscow and Tokyo.
According to the Russian Navy, the missiles were launched from a nuclear submarine, a missile cruiser, and a “Bastion” coastal missile system in the area of the Southern Kuril Islands.
According to the information released, the missiles were fired at targets located more than 300 kilometers away and reportedly hit them successfully.
The Russian Pacific Fleet did not specify the exact location of the exercises. At the same time, it is known that Russia deployed “Bastion” coastal defense batteries on Iturup Island—known in Japan as Etorofu—back in 2016.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters that Russia’s buildup of its military presence on the disputed islands runs counter to Tokyo’s position and is unacceptable.
Russia has controlled the Southern Kuril Islands since the Soviet Union seized them from Japan at the end of World War II.
On August 13, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time.
Japan responded to this visit with a protest. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the four “Northern Territories,” including Iturup Island, historically and under international law belong to Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also called Putin’s visit completely unacceptable. Following this, the Japanese side summoned the Russian ambassador.
Japan insists that the archipelago, which includes Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands, was illegally seized by the Soviet Union shortly after the end of World War II. Russia, for its part, maintains that the seizure of these territories was legitimate.
The territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands has so far prevented Russia and Japan from concluding a peace treaty.
Putin’s visit marked his first trip to the disputed islands in more than 20 years in power in Russia. In 2010, then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian head of state to visit the disputed territories, making a trip to Kunashir.
On that same day, August 13, Medvedev issued threats against Japan over the status of the Kuril Islands, which he called “Russian lands.”
“Anyone who fails to understand this will face the terrible consequences of their illusions,” Medvedev warned.
This was reported by Bloomberg.
Prior to this, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, had threatened Japan with “terrible consequences” over Tokyo’s position on the ownership of the southern Kuril Islands.
Tokyo plans to consider countermeasures following Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s visit to one of the Kuril Islands. Japan considers the archipelago its own territory, which Russia also claims.
The United States reaffirmed its position on Japan’s sovereignty over the Northern Territories following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup Island.
