Putin Visits Disputed Iturup Kuril Islands, Japan Strongly Protests

Japan said Friday that it lodged a protest with Russia after its notification that it planned to conduct missile tests off disputed islands visited by President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. "We lodged a protest in response to the notification about the plan to conduct a missile test" off the Kuril islands, known as the Northern Territories by Japan, a Japanese government spokesman told AFP. Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted Russia's Pacific Fleet as saying that it had already conducted the missile test, although it was unclear when it took place. The Russian naval fleet said a unit equipped with the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system conducted the test, Kyodo reported. The guided missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, also took part in the test, along with the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, the news agency said. The test simulated an attack on enemy vessels and succeeded in hitting all the intended targets at a range of at least 300 kilometers (186 miles), the fleet added, according to Kyodo. Putin made his first official visit to the islands, administered by Russia since 1945, on August 13, prompting Japan to summon Russia's ambassador, a move then reciprocated by Moscow. Putin went there after visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where Russia's navy was conducting drills.

Russia has conducted rare missile tests near the Kuril Islands, just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed islands which are located off the coasts of Japan and Russia. CNN’s Hanako Montgomery reports. © 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play. Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store. 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Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time, state media reported on Thursday, drawing anger from Japan. Japan has long claimed ownership of four of the Kuril Islands, including the one reportedly visited by Putin, which the Soviet Union seized toward the end of World War II. What is the dispute over the Kuril Islands? During his trip, Putin visited a fish-processing plant on the island, known as Iturup in Russian and Etorofu in Japanese, where he was given caviar, Russian media reported. The island belongs to four that are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and that are now Russian-occupied following the Soviet Union's takeover in 1945. At that time, Moscow deported their Japanese population of about 17,000 people, with the islands now inhabited by some 20,000 Russian citizens. The unresolved dispute was one of the key reasons why Moscow and Tokyo never signed a formal World War II peace treaty. Russian-Japanese relations have since suffered another major blow following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022. The volcanic Kuril archipelago runs in an arc from Russia's Kamchatka peninsula down to Japan's main northern island of Hokkaido. What has Japan said about Putin's visit? In a statement on Thursday, Japan's foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, expressed Tokyo's great displeasure at Putin's visit. "The Northern Territories ... are an inherent part of Japan's territory both historically and under international law, and the government of Japan strongly protests this visit," the statement said. Strategically-located Kuril Islands The islands have seldom been visited by Russian leaders, with then-President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010 becoming the first to travel to the disputed territory. Medvedev also went there in 2015 as prime minister. Putin's visit to the Kurils came after he visited the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where Russia's navy was conducting drills. The islands had considerable strategic importance for the Soviet Union, which kept a large military presence there during the Cold War amid tensions with the US and Japan. Talks on the territorial issue that have been held since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 have so far borne no fruit. Edited by: Rob Turner Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.

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Putin Visits Disputed Japan-Claimed Kuril Island, Sparking Tokyo Protest Overview of Putin's Visit and Regional Tensions Background of the Kuril Islands Dispute Aug 13 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido, Russian media said on Thursday, a day after major naval drills and a missile firing by ally North Korea. Moscow and Tokyo never signed a formal World War Two peace treaty as the main hurdle was the unresolved territorial dispute over the islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. Details of Putin's Visit On the trip, which state news agency TASS described as Putin's first in person to the island chain, he visited the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup, after overseeing the navy drills in Russia's far east. Japan's Reaction and Diplomatic Protest Japan's foreign minister protested against Putin's visit on X. "The northern territories, including Etorofu, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and based on international law," said Toshimitsu Motegi. "Japan strongly protests this visit." Putin's Activities on Iturup Vesti TV channel images showed Putin in a dark suit, standing in a room looking at two large tuna and halibut on a table, as two officials spoke about fishing and the migratory behaviour of fish. He also stopped to try local fish roe. "What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!" Putin told a group of Iturup locals. "And we thought you arranged this!" a woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, joked back. Regional Military Context The visit follows Wednesday's firing of a ballistic missile by ally North Korea, towards waters off the east of the Korean peninsula, days ahead of major joint military exercises by Seoul and Washington long denounced by Pyongyang. (Reporting by Jekaterīna Golubkova, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Clarence Fernandez)

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday, Aug. 13, drawing fresh attention to the long-running territorial dispute with Japan as relations between Moscow and Tokyo remain deeply strained over Russia’s war against Ukraine. Putin traveled to Iturup, one of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan, after overseeing Russian Pacific Fleet exercises in the Far East, Russian state media reported. TASS described the trip as Putin’s first personal visit to the Kuril chain. On Iturup, he visited the Yasny fish-processing plant and sampled locally produced fish roe, according to Russian television footage. The visit came a day after Putin inspected the Pacific Fleet’s flagship missile cruiser Varyag during military drills in Russia’s Sakhalin region. During the exercise, Putin also rejected Japan’s territorial claims over the islands. Decades-old dispute sharpened by Russia’s war The four southernmost islands in the Kuril chain have been controlled by Moscow since Soviet forces seized them at the end of World War II. Japan claims the islands – which it calls the Northern Territories – as sovereign Japanese territory. The dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a formal peace treaty formally settling their World War II relationship. Relations deteriorated sharply following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Japan joined Western sanctions against Moscow, prompting Russia to withdraw from peace treaty negotiations and freeze joint economic projects involving the disputed islands. Moscow has since hardened its position. In February, the Kremlin said no peace dialogue with Japan was taking place and described bilateral relations as having been reduced to virtually nothing because of what it called Tokyo’s “unfriendly” policies. Japan, meanwhile, has remained a strong supporter of Ukraine and has participated in G7 measures aimed at restricting Russia’s access to finance and technology. You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

First visit by Russia's president to the territory, Russian media says Russian President Vladimir Putin accompanied by Pacific fleet commander Viktor Liina tours a missile cruiser Varyag in Russia's far eastern Sakhalin Region on Aug. 12. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov © Reuters (Reuters) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup, an island in the disputed Kuril Islands chain claimed by both Russia and Japan, state news agency TASS said Thursday. The neighbors never signed a formal World War II peace treaty, with the main hurdle being the unresolved territorial dispute over the islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. On the trip, described by TASS as Putin's first in person to the island chain, he visited the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup, after overseeing navy drills in Russia's far east. Vesti TV channel images showed Putin in a dark suit, standing in a room looking at two large tuna and halibut on a table, as two officials spoke about fishing and the migratory behavior of fish. He also stopped to try local fish roe.

Aug 13 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido, Russian media said on Thursday, a day after major naval drills and a missile firing by ally North Korea. Moscow and Tokyo never signed a formal World War Two peace treaty as the main hurdle was the unresolved territorial dispute over the islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. Sign up here. On the trip, which state news agency TASS described as Putin's first in person to the island chain, he visited the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup, after overseeing the navy drills in Russia's far east. Japan's foreign minister protested against Putin's visit on X. "The northern territories, including Etorofu, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and based on international law," said Toshimitsu Motegi. "Japan strongly protests this visit." Vesti TV channel images showed Putin in a dark suit, standing in a room looking at two large tuna and halibut on a table, as two officials spoke about fishing and the migratory behaviour of fish. He also stopped to try local fish roe. "What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!" Putin told a group of Iturup locals. "And we thought you arranged this!" a woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, joked back. The visit follows Wednesday's firing of a ballistic missile by ally North Korea, towards waters off the east of the Korean peninsula, days ahead of major joint military exercises by Seoul and Washington long denounced by Pyongyang. Reporting by Jekaterīna Golubkova, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Clarence Fernandez Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan The Russian president inspected the Pacific fleet on his first trip to the disputed archipelago, drawing a protest from Tokyo Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday, prompting a “strong” protest by Japan which also claims the territory. Russian-Japanese relations have long been dogged by tensions over the contested islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. The Kremlin posted a video of Putin in the Kuril Islands, with Russian media saying he visited a fish-processing plant where he was given caviar. Putin travelled to the Kurils after visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where Russia’s navy was conducting drills. In Sakhalin, Putin held a meeting “on ensuring the security of Russia’s eastern borders”, RIA Novosti said. Japan, whose ties with Russia have worsened further since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – just as Moscow’s relations with China and North Korea have warmed – objected strongly.

Russia tests missiles near Japanese-claimed islands after Putin’s visit The Pacific Fleet fired Bastion missiles near the disputed Kurils, escalating territorial tensions between Moscow and Tokyo Russia’s Pacific Fleet said on Thursday it has conducted a missile test off a group of Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands amid an intensifying row over the disputed territory following President Vladimir Putin’s first-ever visit there last week. While it was unclear exactly when the test was carried out, the announcement comes after the Russian foreign ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto over Japan’s protest against Putin’s trip to the area. Putin visited Etorofu Island, the largest of the four islands collectively called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, on August 13. The naval fleet said a unit equipped with the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system conducted the test. The system is deployed to Etorofu. The guided missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, also took part in the missile test along with the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, the fleet said. The test simulated an attack on enemy vessels and succeeded in hitting all the intended targets at a range of at least 300km (186 miles), according to the fleet.

Japan yesterday said it had protested against Russia’s notification that Moscow would conduct missile tests off disputed islands visited by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. “We lodged a protest in response to the notification about the plan to conduct a missile test” off the Kuril Islands, known as the Northern Territories by Japan, a Japanese government spokesman said. Kyodo quoted Russia’s Pacific Fleet as saying that it had already conducted the missile test, although it was unclear when it took place. Photo: Bloomberg A unit equipped with the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system conducted the test, Kyodo quoted the Russian naval fleet as saying. The guided missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, also took part in the test, along with the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, it added. The exercise simulated an attack on enemy vessels and succeeded in hitting all the intended targets at a range of at least 300km, the fleet said “We believe Russia’s military buildup in the Northern Territories including these missile drills runs counter to Japan’s position regarding the Northern Territories, and is unacceptable,” Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi said. Putin made his first official visit to the islands, administered by Russia since 1945, on Thursday last week, prompting Japan to summon Russia’s ambassador — a move then reciprocated by Moscow. Putin went there after visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where Russia’s navy was conducting drills. His visit was the first trip to the islands by a Russian president since Dmitry Medvedev in 2010. After Putin’s stop, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the islands “are an inherent part of Japan’s territory, both historically and under international law.” Ties between Japan and Russia have worsened since the full-scale conflict in Ukraine began in 2022. Japan has joined other G7 countries in sanctioning Moscow and aiding Kyiv. Ukraine, like the US, recognizes Japanese sovereignty over the disputed islands. Analysts said Putin’s visit to the Kurils could have been aimed at warning Japan against deepening its support for Ukraine — potentially including the direct supply of Patriot missiles — and closer cooperation with NATO. Japan provides only non-lethal defense aid to Ukraine. While Japan has eased restrictions on defense exports over the past few years, it is still barred from supplying lethal military equipment directly to a country at war. HELD ACCOUNTABLE: A total of 56 people were handed prison sentences, with terms for senior executives ranging from six to 18 years in jail, Xinhua reported China yesterday sentenced the founder of embattled property giant Evergrande to life in prison and fined the group more than US$2 billion for offenses including fraud, five years after a high-profile default. Evergrande Group was once the face of Chinese real estate, surfing a decades-long property boom as it peddled home-ownership dreams. However, its access to credit dramatically narrowed when the government introduced curbs on excessive borrowing and speculation. The company defaulted in 2021 after struggling to repay creditors. A court in southern China fined the firm and its real-estate arm a total of 15.82 billion yuan (US$2.35 billion). It issued a life sentence TWIN DISASTERS: Authorities are investigating the cause of the stampede in Bihar that killed seven people and the fire at a hotel in West Bengal that also killed seven A deadly stampede yesterday broke out at a Hindu temple in eastern India’s Bihar state, hours after a fire swept through a hotel housing pilgrims in West Bengal state. Seven people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the stampede, while the blaze left at least seven people dead and several others critically injured, police said. The incident in Bihar occurred near Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai District, as thousands of devotees gathered to offer prayers on the third Monday of Shravan. The period, which usually falls between July and August, is dedicated to the worship of Hindu god Lord Shiva US President Donald Trump’s war against Iran is stretching the limits of US aircraft carriers and leaving the western Pacific without one of the key US warships as China shows more signs of aggression. The USS George Washington is departing the Pacific and expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East amid growing concerns about mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed carrier. The Lincoln has had its time at sea extended from its original May return date to support operations against Iran. The lack of a US carrier in the Pacific might be short-lived if When food safety inspectors raided a Mumbai dessert parlor famed for its ice cream sandwiches last month, they found rats, houseflies and expired flavoring agents. At another beloved restaurant known for slow-cooked mutton and beef stews, they discovered meat stored in filthy containers, greasy floors and open windows that could let in insects and crows. Both eateries were ordered shut in the toughest crackdown in years on restaurants in the megacity of more than 20 million people. Residents of India’s financial capital are fiercely protective of their food culture, but many have welcomed the closure of some of the best-known establishments over

Japan has criticised missile tests carried out by Russia’s navy around the disputed islands visited by Vladimir Putin last week amid continuing tensions between the two countries. Russia’s Pacific fleet said on Thursday that it had fired Bastion surface-to-ship missiles from Etorofu, the largest island in the disputed archipelago, simulating an attack on enemy vessels, hitting all of its targets approximately 300km away. Officials said the drills included a nuclear-powered submarine and a guided-missile cruiser, according to reports. Putin sparked a tit-for-tat summoning of ambassadors in Tokyo and Moscow with his first visit last week to Etorofu, the largest of the group of four islands. They are referred to as the Northern Territories or Four Northern Islands in Japan, and as part of the Kuril Islands in Russia. Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s foreign minister, said on Thursday during a trip to Oman: “We cannot tolerate moves to strengthen military power on the Four Northern Islands because they go against our country’s stance [on the territories].” Territorial rows over the islands go back to the 19th century. The Soviet Union seized them from Japan at the end of the second world war. Exercises by the Russian fleet began on 4 August and Japan was informed in advance that they would include live-fire drills. Japan lodged a protest against the large-scale manoeuvres on 5 August. According to the Russian news agency Tass, the drills involved “approximately 60 surface ships, submarines, and support vessels, about 30 aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems of the Pacific fleet’s naval aviation, as well as over 13,000 service members”. Putin observed some of the exercises from the Varyag on 12 August as part of his trip to the disputed islands and to Sakhalin, the large undisputedly Russian island north of Hokkaido. “The region is unfortunately becoming increasingly prone to conflict, with Nato seeking to gain a foothold here and the emergence of new military and political blocs,” said Putin, speaking aboard the flagship. “There are efforts and plans to deploy new weapons systems here, which creates threats for our country.” The Russian drills are scheduled to continue through 29 August.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the disputed Kuril Islands for the first time, travelling to Iturup as Moscow's relations with Japan remain deeply strained over Russia's war in Ukraine. The visit, reported by Russian state media on Thursday, comes after Putin oversaw military exercises involving Russia's Pacific Fleet in the country's Far East. It also comes a day after North Korea, a close Russian ally, fired a ballistic missile towards waters off the Korean Peninsula. Putin's trip to Iturup is significant because the island is among four southern Kuril Islands that Japan claims as its own territory and calls the Northern Territories. Putin visits Iturup, inspects local industry According to Reuters, Putin visited the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup and was shown local fishing operations. Russian television footage showed him examining large tuna and halibut and sampling fish roe. The Russian president also interacted with residents. "What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!" Putin told a group of locals. The visit followed Putin's inspection of the Pacific Fleet's flagship missile cruiser Varyag during military exercises in Russia's Far East. Russian state news agency TASS described the Iturup trip as Putin's first personal visit to the Kuril island chain. Putin had previously visited Sakhalin but had not personally travelled to the disputed islands. Why the Kuril Islands are disputed The dispute dates back to the final days of World War II, when Soviet forces seized the Kuril Islands after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan in August 1945. The four islands at the centre of the dispute are Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai islets. Japan refers to them as Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands and maintains that they are Japanese territory. The Soviet Union retained control of the islands after the war, and Russia has maintained a military presence there. The islands are strategically important because of their location between the Russian Far East and northern Japan. They also have rich fishing grounds and deposits of minerals, including gold and silver. Around 20,000 people currently live on the islands under Russian administration, while Japan says its former residents were displaced following the Soviet takeover. Around 17,000 Japanese residents were deported after the islands were occupied in 1945. Japan protests Putin's visit Putin's visit has drawn a strong reaction from Tokyo. Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi protested the visit, reiterating Japan's claim over the islands. "The northern territories, including Etorofu, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and based on international law," Motegi said, according to Reuters. "Japan strongly protests this visit." The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty formally ending their World War II conflict. There have been several attempts to resolve the dispute over the decades. In 1956, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev suggested that two of the disputed islands could be returned to Japan as part of a peace settlement, although no final agreement followed. Negotiations resumed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but the territorial dispute remained unresolved. Ukraine war deepens Russia-Japan tensions The long-running dispute has become more difficult to resolve since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Japan joined Western countries in imposing sanctions on Moscow and has strongly supported Ukraine. In response, Russia suspended peace treaty negotiations with Japan and halted several forms of economic cooperation relating to the disputed islands. Moscow has also accused Tokyo of adopting an increasingly hostile position towards Russia. Putin used his address to Pacific Fleet personnel on Wednesday to criticise Japan's sanctions and its continuing territorial claims. He said Russia had previously maintained constructive relations with Tokyo over the issue during the administration of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but claimed Japan had since changed its position. He noted that Japan's current territorial claims came despite what he described as the post-World War II territorial arrangements being reflected in international documents. Putin also recalled the 1956 Soviet-Japanese declaration, which restored diplomatic relations and opened the way towards a possible peace treaty and a settlement of the island dispute. He claimed that Tokyo later refused to abide by the declaration. Russia has increasingly strengthened its military presence and activities in its Far Eastern territories as tensions with Japan have risen. Visit comes amid wider military tensions in the region Putin's Kuril Islands trip also comes against a backdrop of increased military activity in the Asia-Pacific region. The Russian president had travelled to the Far East to oversee the final stage of large-scale Pacific Fleet exercises, which began on August 4. Putin said the exercises were necessary to maintain military readiness and protect Russia's interests and security in the Asia-Pacific region. He also accused NATO of seeking to increase its presence in the region. Putin warned of rising conflict potential in the Asia-Pacific and Arctic regions, while criticising what he described as plans to deploy new weapons systems in the region. The timing was notable because North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday, just days before major South Korea-US military exercises are scheduled to begin. Moscow and Pyongyang have significantly deepened their military partnership in recent years. Ukraine battlefield developments add to regional backdrop Putin's visit comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues with fighting and long-range strikes intensifying. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had recaptured about 745 sq km of territory this year across parts of the southeastern front, including 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. However, these battlefield claims have not been independently verified. Ukraine has also stepped up attacks deep inside Russian territory, including a major recent strike on Novorossiysk, a key Black Sea port and grain-export hub. The attack reportedly damaged port infrastructure and disrupted operations at major grain terminals. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, making Novorossiysk strategically important not only for Moscow but also for global agricultural markets. At the same time, Russia has continued missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. No breakthrough in decades-old territorial dispute For Japan, Putin's visit is likely to further complicate already strained relations with Moscow. The Kuril Islands remain one of the most enduring territorial disputes left over from World War II. While there have been periods of diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation, neither side has been able to agree on a final settlement. With Russia's war in Ukraine having pushed Moscow and Tokyo further apart, Putin's first personal visit to the disputed islands sends a strong political signal that Russia has no immediate intention of softening its position over territory it has controlled since 1945.

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. Read us on Telegram and Sends

SEOUL, South Korea —Russiahas conducted missile tests off Japanese-claimed islands in the Northwestern Pacific, escalating a weeklong Moscow-Tokyo diplomatic row in the area. The brouhaha ignited when Russian PresidentVladimir Putinmade an unexpected visit to a Russian-held, Japanese-claimed island in theKuril Chainon Aug. 13. The disputed Kurils lie northeast ofJapan’snorthernmost main island,Hokkaido.Japancalls them its “Northern Territories.” Tensions over the 810-mile-long chain are a legacy of fighting from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5, 1945, when the Soviet Union seized the four southernmost islands — then Japanese-administered and -populated. Tokyo, which surrendered on Sept. 2, never accepted Moscow’s actions as legitimate. The closest Kuril lies under three miles fromHokkaido. The domain shift from diplomatic to military presents an unpleasant surprise for Tokyo defense planners. In recent years,Japanhas been focusing strategic efforts on its southwestern island chain, the Ryukyus, where U.S. forces are deployed on Okinawa. The Ryukyus are ideally sited to deter Chinese naval moves on Taiwan. That shift has taken place at the same time Russia-facing defenses on the northeastern island ofHokkaidohave been deprioritized. Putin’s surprise maneuvers Late Thursday, Russian media said the Russian Pacific Fleet had conducted tests of a “Bastion” coast-defense system. Bastions, which fire supersonic “Onik” missiles out to 497 miles, are deployed on Etorofu Island — known in Russian as Iturup Island - in the Kurils. The flagship ofRussia’sPacific Fleet, guided-missile cruiser Varyag and a nuclear submarine also joined the exercise, media stated. That marks an escalation. Mr. Putin visited Etorofu/Iturup on Aug. 13, meeting the regional governor and locals, and touring facilities: a school, a hospital and a fish-processing plant. Tokyo, which claims the islands, responded angrily. The move “hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable,” Prime MinisterSanae Takaichisaid on TV. “We hope that the Russian side will take the seriousness of this matter fully to heart.” On Aug, 14, the Chinese and Russian ambassadors to Tokyo released a joint statement pledging to resist moves to change the end-result of World War II. On Aug. 18,Russia’sDeputy Foreign MinisterMikhail Galuzinsummoned Japanese AmbassadorAkira Muto— who was confronted at the entrance to Moscow’s Foreign Ministry by a crowd of Russian media — to protest the “anti-Russia” statements by Ms. Takaichi. He warned Mr. Muto that “Moscow reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures.” The Kurils offer ice-free access to Russian warships transiting between the Sea of Okhotsk and the open Pacific. They also provide offshore cover forRussia’sFar East Federal Territory, where strategic assets including ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines are based. The Russian Far East is sparsely populated and lies thousands of miles fromRussia’spolitical center of gravity, in EuropeanRussia, at the far end of long, precarious supply lines. A quietly voiced Russian anxiety has long existed: That neighboring China, with its massive population and surging economy, could encroach on their Far Eastern terrain. The Kurils are even more of a backwater. Mr. Putin, in power since 1999, had never visited the islands before last week. The only other Russian president to visit was Dmitri Medvedev in 2010, when Mr. Putin was prime minister. The Kremlin’s considerations At a time whenRussia’son-ground advance in Ukraine has slowed to a crawl and Kyiv’s drones are overcoming air defenses and hammering targets across the vastness ofRussia, Mr. Putin needs some good news to shore up his nationalist-hawkish base. Japanmay be a soft target. “NATO countries can turn Moscow into a pile of radioactive rubble, but are reluctant even to think about it,” said Leonid Petrov, an Asia-focused scholar of Russian descent. “Japan, on the contrary, is a victim of nuclear carnage but does not possess a single nuclear device, and that makes it an easy target for Putin’s territorial exhortations.” Mr. Putin’s move may also be designed to testJapan’ssecurity partners. “Putin wants to prove to NATO and the Quad countries that he can do whatever he likes, as long as he wants, becauseRussiahas nukes and is ready to use them,” Mr. Petrov, a visiting scholar at Australian National University, said. NATO has been intensely wary of involvement in Ukraine. The Quad is a security dialog, rather than an alliance, comprising Australia, India,Japanand the United States. Japanhas a bilateral alliance with the U.S., which has remained above the ongoing dispute. Russiahas suffered serious losses among its western (“Zapad” or “Z”) and eastern (“Vostok” or “V”) force groupings in Ukraine. However, its Pacific Fleet, unengaged, remains fully operational. AnyHokkaidocontingency will not be welcomed by Tokyo’s defense chiefs. After the Soviet Union imploded,Russia’sPacific Fleet, based at Vladivostok, fell into deep disrepair. That has been remedied, but since 2022, Moscow’s forces have been bogged down in a long, bloody war on the far western edge of the world’s largest country, in Ukraine. Prior to last week,Japan’sdeprioritization ofHokkaidoin favor of the Ryukyus had looked like a safe bet. “This was probably a bit of a surprise … questions arise about [Japan’s] emphasis on Okinawa,” said Lance Gatling, a former planning officer with U.S. ForcesJapan. “They don’t have a tremendous amount of new things going intoHokkaido, though the anti-ship missile platforms being updated and sent to the southwest were originally inHokkaido.” In recent years, Chinese and Russian naval and aerial forces have been conducting joint exercises aroundJapan, in and over the East China Sea, the Sea ofJapan, and in the Western Pacific. Whether Moscow is coordinating its activities with Beijing to draw Tokyo’s focus and assets away from the southwest is unknown. However, it would make sense given tight ties between Mr. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the joint statement both nations’ ambassadors to Tokyo made last week. Mr. Gatling offered a more novel possibility. “Are the Russians positioning for some distraction from the Chinese threat in the Southwest or increasing strategic pressure onJapan— or positioning themselves to make a deal?” he asked. “Russiacould use Japanese money and technology to develop the Russian Far East and to offset their increasing dependence on China.” [email protected] View staff page Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.Click here for reprint permission. [email protected] View staff page Spanberger’s Virginia places illegals first, victims last The CIA must determine Iran’s next likely moves Tax cuts, not hikes, raise the tide for all

Russia conducted missile tests involving warships and a ground-based launcher near the Kuril Islands, which Japan claims as its territory. Kyodo News reports this, citing a statement from the Russian Pacific Fleet. The tests involved a unit with the Bastion coastal missile system, the Varyag missile cruiser, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, and the Omsk nuclear submarine. The Russians simulated an attack on the ships. According to the Pacific Fleet, they allegedly managed to attack all training targets at a distance of at least 300 km. The exact time of the tests has not been specified. But the report came after the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto over Tokyoʼs protest against Putinʼs visit to the region on August 13. "We cannot tolerate Russiaʼs steps to increase military power on the four northern islands, as they contradict our countryʼs position on these territories," said Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Another ministry representative told the media that Japan filed a protest with Russia after Moscow notified Tokyo of the missile exercises. What is known about the Kuril Islands? Today, the Kuril Islands administratively belong to the Sakhalin Oblast of the Russian Federation. However, Japan disputes this and considers four islands, including Iturup, to be its territory, which the USSR seized during World War II. On March 21, 2022, Russia withdrew from long-running negotiations and froze joint economic projects related to the Kuril Islands. The reason was Japanʼs joining Western sanctions over Russiaʼs war against Ukraine. A few days later, Russia began military exercises on the islands. On March 31 of the same year, Japan recognized the Kuril Islands as “ancient territory of Japan under illegal occupation”. Ukraine also recognized the Kuril Islands as occupied territory of Japan. On August 13, Putin visited Iturup Island, part of the Kuril archipelago, for the first time during his presidency. Japan then expressed a strong protest. Until now, Russian leaders have visited the Kuril Islands five times. In 2010, Dmitry Medvedev, who was then the President of Russia, came there. In 2012, 2015 and 2019, he came to the islands as Prime Minister. And in 2021, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited the islands. For more news and in-depth stories from Ukraine, please follow us on X.

The visit brought a decades-old dispute back into the spotlight, as Tokyo confronted Moscow over islands claimed by both countries. As stated byReuters Vladimir Putin visited islands claimed by Japan for the first time, prompting a protest from Tokyo. The visit took place amid a long-running territorial dispute between the two countries over the southern part of the Kuril Islands. Japan considers these territories its own and refers to them as the Northern Territories. Russia has controlled the islands since the end of World War II. Japan said that Vladimir Putin’s visit to the disputed islands contradicted Tokyo’s position on their sovereignty. Japanese authorities delivered an official protest to Russia. The territorial dispute remains the main obstacle to concluding a peace treaty between Japan and Russia after World War II. Negotiations over the islands’ status have continued for decades, but the sides have yet to reach a final agreement. The dispute concerns four islands in the southern part of the Kuril chain. Japan insists on the return of these territories, while Russia regards them as part of its own territory. Vladimir Putin’s visit heightened tensions between Moscow and Tokyo and once again drew attention to the unresolved issue of the islands’ status. Other news you may find interesting:

21.08.2026 / 07:20 Nashaniva.com Russia conducted rare missile exercises involving naval vessels and a land-based launcher near islands also claimed by Japan. This has heightened recent tensions between the countries,writesBloomberg. On Thursday, Russia's Pacific Fleet announced that the missile launch was carried out from a nuclear submarine, a missile cruiser, and the Bastion coastal defense complex in the area of the Southern Kuril Islands. However, the date of the exercises was not specified. According to the report, the missiles were launched at targets located more than 300 km away and successfully hit them. The Pacific Fleet did not specify the exact location of the exercises, but Russia had already deployed Bastion coastal defense batteries on Iturup Island, known in Japan as Etorofu, back in 2016. «The buildup of Russia's military power on the four Northern Islands contradicts Japan's position and is unacceptable,» — Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters. Article comments

Information agency «Ukrainian National News» Subject in the field of online media; media identifier - R40-05926 This resource is intended for persons who have reached the age of 21. All rights reserved. © 2007 — 2026 Kyiv•UNN August 13 2026, 04:59 AM•1900views Putin visited the Kuril Island of Iturup for the first time; the island is the subject of a territorial dispute with Japan. He inspected a fish-processing plant, demonstrating Moscow's position regarding control over the islands. Russia's dictator Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time. The islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Bloomberg reports this, citing Russia's state-run TASS news agency, writesUNN. Putin visited the island of Iturup, where he inspected a fish-processing plant. The Kremlin press service published video of his trip. The Southern Kurils, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, are controlled by Russia. At the same time, Tokyo considers Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai island group to be its territory. Putin threatened to seize European vessels wherever Russia "deems necessary"12.08.26, 13:01 • 3452 views The territorial dispute over the islands became one of the reasons why Russia and Japan have still not concluded a peace treaty after World War II. Therefore, Putin's visit has important political significance and effectively demonstrates Moscow's position regarding control over the islands. Before Putin, other Russian leaders also visited the Kurils. Dmitry Medvedev went there four times—first as president in 2010, and later as prime minister in 2012, 2015 and 2019. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Iturup in 2021. Trump said that Putin "released" the U.S. Marine and "wanted nothing in return"11.08.26, 19:39 • 5116 views The day before, while in Sakhalin, Putin said that Russia posed no threat to Japan and was ready to continue seeking a diplomatic settlement. At the same time, he stressed that Russian control over the Kuril Islands was, in his words, enshrined in international documents as a consequence of World War II. Putin arrived in Novosibirsk; before his visit, the city was urgently repaired11.08.26, 02:37 • 4027 views Stepan Haftko