Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Prompting Japanese Protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, August 13, 2026, a move that prompted an immediate and strong protest from the Japanese government. The trip to Iturup, known in Japan as Etorofu, marks Putin's first personal visit to the island chain and the first by a Russian president in 16 years, according to state media reports.

Putin traveled to the island after overseeing naval exercises by Russia's Pacific Fleet in the Sakhalin region. During the drills, he inspected the fleet's flagship missile cruiser, the Varyag. On Iturup, he visited the Yasny fish-processing plant, where television footage showed him examining large tuna and halibut and sampling local fish roe. He also interacted with residents, commenting on the pleasant weather.

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a statement on the social media platform X, declaring, "We strongly protest the visit." He asserted that the Northern Territories, including Etorofu, are Japan's inherent territories both historically and under international law. The four islands at the center of the dispute, called the Southern Kurils by Russia, have been administered by Moscow since Soviet...