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Drills After Putin Visit
Russia’s Pacific Fleet carried out training missile strikes against simulated enemy ships near the coast of the southern Kuril Islands on Thursday, its press service said, several days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup on August 13.
“The target group was located more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the firing positions”
The exercise involved the guided-missile cruiser Varyag conducting a practice launch of two Vulkan anti-ship missiles, the nuclear-powered submarine Omsk firing a salvo of Granit cruise missiles, and a Bastion coastal missile system launching an Oniks anti-ship missile.
Anadolu Ajansı reported the target group was located more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the firing positions, and the fleet said the firing area had been closed in advance to civilian shipping and aircraft.
Global Times said the drills came amid escalating tensions with Japan over the Southern Kuril Islands, and it cited a Chinese expert saying the deteriorating bilateral relationship highlighted Japan’s “increasingly isolated position in Northeast Asia.”
Japan Protests, Russia Summons
Japan protested Putin’s Aug. 13 visit to Iturup, one of the four southern Kuril Islands claimed by both countries, and Tokyo considers the islands its “Northern Territories” while Russia administers them as part of Sakhalin Region.
Global Times said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later summoned the Japanese envoy, saying Japan had made completely unacceptable statements by suggesting that the Russian president could not visit Russian territory.
RBC-Ukraine quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi telling journalists, “Russia’s military buildup on the four Northern Islands runs counter to Japan’s position and is unacceptable,” as it described the missile drills as heightening tensions.
The South China Morning Post said the announcement came after the Russian foreign ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto over Japan’s protest against Putin’s trip to the area.
Sanctions, Peace Treaty, Risk
The drills unfolded as Japan and Russia remained locked in a sovereignty dispute over the four islands, with the long-running disagreement preventing Moscow and Tokyo from concluding a formal peace treaty following World War II.
“has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from concluding a formal World War II peace treaty”
RBC-Ukraine said Tokyo aligned itself with Western countries in supporting Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion, including imposing sanctions on Moscow, while Japan also provided non-lethal support to Ukraine including body armor and vehicles.
Global Times framed Putin’s visit as a strong political signal that Moscow no longer views these islands as disputed territory, and it said Russia considers sovereignty over the Southern Kurils settled by the outcome of World War II.
The Anadolu Ajansı report said the exercises were held as part of scheduled combat-training activities, and it noted they came amid a new diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Tokyo over the Kuril Islands.