Japan said Friday (August 21, 2026) it had protested against Russia’s notification that Moscow would conduct missile tests off disputed islands visited by President Vladimir Putin earlier this month.
“During planned exercises, Pacific Fleet forces carried out a missile strike against targets off the coast of the Southern Kuril Islands. The report didn’t say when the exercise took place. Russia’s Pacific Fleet said Thursday (August 20, 2026) it had already conducted the missile test, although it was unclear when it took place. The targets simulated enemy ships and were located at a distance of more than 300 kilometres,” the naval fleet said in a statement.
“We lodged a protest in response to the notification about the plan to conduct a missile test” off the islands, a Japanese government spokesman told AFP . Earlier reporting noted: The Russian Pacific Fleet said a submarine, warship and coastal defense system fired missiles at mock enemy vessels in the waters off the southern Kuril Islands in Russia’s far east, according to Russian state news agency Interfax. Earlier reporting noted: “Russia’s military buildup on the Northern Territories runs counter to Japan’s position” on the islands, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said late Thursday in response to news of the exercise.
Earlier reporting noted: Russian Missile Drills Stoke Tensions With Japan TOKYO—Russia held live missile drills near islands claimed by Japan, further straining relations with Tokyo after a visit to the disputed archipelago by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
