Russia conducts missile tests near disputed islands, Japan protests

Russia conducted live-fire missile tests near a group of islands disputed with Japan on Thursday, escalating tensions just days after President Vladimir Putin made an unprecedented visit to the contested territory. The drills, which involved a guided-missile cruiser, a nuclear-powered submarine, and coastal missile systems, were described by Moscow as successful, with all simulated targets destroyed at a range of around 300 kilometers.

The Pacific Fleet stated that the exercise involved the cruiser Varyag, the submarine Omsk, and a Bastion coastal missile battery deployed on the islands. Naval aviation provided targeting data, and objective control confirmed the destruction of all targets simulating enemy vessels. Japan lodged a formal protest against the large-scale maneuvers, which have been scheduled through August 29 and involve approximately 60 ships and over 13,000 personnel.

The tests occurred about a week after Putin visited Iturup, known in Japan as Etorofu, the largest of the four southernmost Kuril Islands. This marked the first time a Russian president had visited the archipelago since 2010. Following the visit, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the trip...