Russia Tests Missiles off Kuril Islands, Japan Protests

The Japanese government lodged a strong protest with Russia on Friday (21/8), following notification of plans to test missiles in waters near the islands disputed by the two countries, which Russian President Vladimir Putin visited recently.

The disputed islands are the Kuril Islands, referred to by Tokyo as the Northern Territories. The Kuril Islands are located between the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia and the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan.

“We have lodged a protest in response to the notification regarding the planned missile test (off the coast of the Kuril Islands),” said a Japanese government spokesman, who was not named, as reported by AFP on Friday (21/8/2026).

A report by the Japanese news agency Kyodo News, quoting a statement from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, said that the missile test had been carried out by Moscow, although the timing of the test was not clearly stated.

The Russian Navy, according to the Kyodo News report, said that a unit equipped with the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system had conducted the missile test.

The Russian missile cruiser Varyag, which is also the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, was also said to have participated in the test. Kyodo News added that the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Omsk also took part.

According to the Russian Navy, the missile test simulated an attack on enemy ships and successfully hit all targets at a distance of at least 300 kilometres.

Tensions between Japan and Russia have risen recently, after Putin made his first official visit to the Kuril Islands, which Moscow has controlled since 1945. Putin’s visit on 13 August triggered a strong reaction from Japan.

Tokyo authorities immediately summoned the Russian ambassador to convey a protest, which was then reciprocated with a similar move by Moscow.

Putin visited the disputed islands after previously visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where the Russian Navy held military exercises.