Russia Conducts Missile Drills Near Disputed Islands, Angering Japan

Russia's Pacific fleet has conducted missile drills near the Kuril Islands, a territory that Moscow administers but Japan claims as its Northern Territories. The exercises, which involved firing Bastion surface-to-ship missiles from Etorofu, the largest island in the disputed archipelago, simulated an attack on enemy vessels and successfully hit targets approximately 300 kilometers away.

These drills follow a recent visit to the islands by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had already heightened tensions with Japan. Tokyo has expressed strong criticism of Russia's actions, viewing the missile tests as a provocative move amid ongoing geopolitical friction between the two nations.