Russia Conducts Missile Test Near Disputed Kuril Islands Following Putin's Visit

On Thursday, Russia's Pacific Fleet revealed it had carried out a missile test close to the contested Kuril Islands, which are claimed by both Russia and Japan. The exercise utilized the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system stationed on Etorofu Island, the largest of the disputed islands. Participation included the Pacific Fleet's flagship, the guided missile cruiser Varyag, alongside the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine. The fleet stated that the test simulated an assault on enemy ships, successfully striking all targets at a distance of at least 300 kilometers (186 miles). This announcement follows rising territorial tensions after President Vladimir Putin's visit to Etorofu Island on August 13, which Japan protested, leading to the summoning of Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto by the Russian foreign ministry. The exact timing of the missile test remains undisclosed. Japan refers to the islands as the Northern Territories, while Russia calls them the Southern Kurils. This military action highlights the ongoing dispute that has hindered a formal peace treaty between the nations since World War II.