Russia tests missiles near Japanese-claimed islands after Putin’s visit

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 announ

The Kuril Islands/Northern Territories have been a constant thorn in Japan-Russia relations. Putin just made it worse.

Japan is weighing how far to push back after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island last week, as analysts debate whether tougher measures would have much impact on Moscow. Some observers urged Japan to recall its ambassador, impose additional sanctions and deepen cooperation with Ukraine to show it

Vladimir Putin has made a historic first visit to the Russian-claimed Kuril Islands, referred to by Japan as its Northern Territories.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest Tokyo’s condemnation of President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Kuril Islands, the Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that is claimed by both countries.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest Tokyo’s criticism of President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Kuril Islands, the Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that is claimed by both countries

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest Tokyo’s criticism of President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Kuril Islands, the Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that is claimed by both countries

Russia summons Japanese envoy following Putin’s visit to disputed islands  AP News

The island off the east coast of Hokkaido is one of four held by Russia that are known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

Japan earlier summoned Russia's ambassador in protest over President Putin's visit to the islands.

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin visits a school on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on Aug 13, 2026. (Photo: Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP) 18 Aug 2

Russia summoned Japan’s ambassador after Tokyo protested President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, escalating an already bitter territorial row.

Moscow has summoned the Japanese ambassador after Tokyo condemned President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Russia's far-eastern Kuril Islands, which are also claimed by Japan.

Russia has summoned Japan’s ambassador after Tokyo condemned President Putin’s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. This escalates the long-standing Russia

Analysts have said a visit by Russia's leader to a disputed island chain sent a "message" to Japan, which for decades has sought to reclaim control of the territory.

AP —  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, a Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that also is claimed by Japan, which voiced a diplomatic protest over the trip. Putin visited a fish plant, a hospital and a school on Iturup, one of the volcanic chain’s southern island

Within hours, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the prime minister's comments, saying they "cause extreme outrage and are absolutely unacceptable".

The Russian leader flexes Moscow’s muscles in the Far East with his first visit to islands seized by the Soviets after the Second World War.