Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Japan Lodges Strong Protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands on Thursday, August 13, 2026, traveling to Iturup, which Japan calls Etorofu.

During his visit, Mr. Putin toured a fish plant, a hospital, and a school on the island. He also spoke briefly with local residents and met with Valery Limarenko, the governor of Russia's Sakhalin region. Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a statement saying his country strongly protests Mr. Putin's visit to Iturup. Mr. Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev to the ministry in Tokyo and lodged a strong protest, requesting the message be reported back to Moscow.

Japan asserts territorial rights to the four southernmost islands of the chain, which it calls the Northern Territories, including Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets. Mr. Motegi stated these territories are Japan's inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit as absolutely unacceptable and incompatible with Japan's consistent position on the territory.

Ms. Takaichi also said the visit hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and could make efforts to repair Japan-Russia relations more difficult. The Soviet Union seized the islands from Japan in the final days of World War II in 1945. This territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities for decades.

Moscow has bolstered its military presence on the Kurils over the years. Mr. Putin's trip followed his attendance at the final stage of exercises involving Russia's Pacific Fleet off Sakhalin Island. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was the first Russian leader to visit the disputed territory in 2010. Mr. Medvedev, currently deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, stated on X that the Kuril Islands were, are, and will remain Russian land and warned of monstrous consequences for those who fail to understand this.

On Wednesday, Mr. Putin called Japan's sanctions unprovoked and said Russia is not threatening Japan. Ties between Tokyo and Moscow have worsened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with Japan joining other G7 countries in sanctioning Russia.