Putin's visit to Kuril Islands sparks sharp protest from Japan

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup Island, a long-disputed territory claimed by both Russia and Japan, according to Politico. Known in Japanese as Etorofu, the island lies in the Kuril archipelago roughly 100 kilometers from the coast of Japan's Hokkaido. The island, like the rest of the archipelago, is currently administered by Russia.

Japan's response

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi wrote on X on August 13 that he had learned of Putin's visit to Iturup. He stated that the so-called Northern Territories, including Iturup, belong to Japan both historically and under international law. The Japanese government has lodged a strong protest over the Russian president's visit.

Moscow, for its part, maintains that the Kuril Islands became part of Russian territory following Japan's defeat in World War II.

Military presence and prior tensions

Russia has established a strategically significant military base on Iturup. Tensions surrounding the islands are not new — in 2025, Japan had already protested Russian live-fire drills conducted in waters near the island, including within Japanese territorial waters, calling Russia's military buildup in the region unacceptable.

Russian media also reported a calmer episode of Putin's visit, saying the leader toured a fish farm on the island, where he was told that waters around the Kuril Islands currently hold an abundance of tuna, with some fish weighing over 300 kilograms.