Japan lodged a formal diplomatic protest against Russia on August 21 following a series of live-fire missile tests conducted by the Russian Pacific Fleet around the disputed Kuril Islands, according to reports from Agence France-Presse and The Guardian. The military drills followed an official visit to the island chain by Russian President Vladimir Putin in mid-August, which already had triggered a diplomatic dispute between Tokyo and Moscow.
Missile Tests in the Southern Kurils
The Russian Pacific Fleet announced on August 20 that its forces executed a planned missile strike targeting simulated enemy ships located more than 300 kilometers away, as reported by The Straits Times. The live-fire exercises involved the Guards cruiser Varyag launching two Vulkan anti-ship missiles, while the nuclear-powered submarine Omsk fired Granit cruise missiles. Simultaneously, a Bastion coastal missile system crew on Etorofu—the largest island in the disputed archipelago—struck a target using an Oniks missile.
According to Tass reports cited by The Guardian, the broader naval exercises began on August 4 and involved approximately 60 surface ships, submarines, and support vessels, alongside about 30 aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems. More than 13,000 service members participated in the maneuvers, which Russia scheduled to run through August 29.
Diplomatic Fallout and Territorial Disputes
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi condemned the military activity during a diplomatic trip to Oman on August 20, stating that Russia’s military buildup in the territory runs counter to Japan’s position and is unacceptable, according to AFP. A Japanese government spokesman confirmed that Tokyo formally protested the missile test notifications.
The territorial dispute centers on an archipelago known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Kuril Islands. The Soviet Union seized the islands at the end of World War II in 1945 and expelled the Japanese population. President Putin traveled to Etorofu on August 13 after visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, marking the first presidential visit to the islands since Dmitry Medvedev traveled there in 2010.
The visit prompted Tokyo to summon Russia’s ambassador, a diplomatic move that Moscow quickly reciprocated. Speaking aboard the flagship Varyag during the exercises on August 12, Putin stated that the region is becoming increasingly prone to conflict due to efforts by NATO and other actors to deploy new weapons systems, according to The Guardian. Analysts note that the timing of Putin’s visit and the subsequent naval drills serves as a strategic warning against Japan deepening its security cooperation with Western allies and supporting Ukraine.
Worth a look