Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 13 visited Iturup Island—known in Japan as Etorofu—the largest of the Kuril Islands, marking his first confirmed visit to the disputed territory as president, according to multiple state media reports.
Japan immediately protested the visit, with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the islands are an "inherent part of Japan's territory both historically and under international law."
**Putin’s Visit and Activities
Putin’s trip to Iturup followed his oversight of military drills by Russia’s Pacific Fleet near Sakhalin Island on August 12, where he also attended a meeting on "ensuring the security of Russia’s eastern borders," as reported by RIA Novosti and TASS.
During his visit to Iturup, Putin toured the Yasny fish-processing plant, where he inspected local fishing operations, including large tuna and halibut, and sampled fish roe. Russian state television footage showed him interacting with residents, remarking on the weather with locals who joked about the timing of his visit.
**Historical and Territorial Dispute
The Kuril Islands have been a source of contention between Russia and Japan since the final days of World War II in 1945, when the Soviet Union seized the archipelago from Japan. Russia has maintained a military presence on the islands ever since.
Japan refers to the four southernmost islands—Iturup (Etorofu), Kunashir (Kunashiri), Shikotan, and the Habomai islets—as the Northern Territories and asserts sovereignty over them. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty since the end of World War II.
**Diplomatic Fallout and Regional Context
Japan’s protest emphasized the islands’ status under international law, framing Putin’s visit as a violation of its territorial claims. The visit occurred amid deteriorating Russia-Japan relations, which have worsened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia’s ties with China and North Korea have strengthened in recent years, while Japan has aligned more closely with Western sanctions against Russia and supported Ukraine. On August 12, North Korea—an ally of Russia—tested a ballistic missile ahead of joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States, adding to regional tensions.
**Previous Visits and Historical Precedent
Putin’s visit to Iturup follows the precedent set by his predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, who became the first Russian leader to visit the disputed islands in 2010 while serving as president. Medvedev later returned to the islands multiple times as prime minister.
This is the first confirmed visit by Putin to the Kuril Islands as president, though he had previously traveled to Sakhalin, the neighboring Russian island, on multiple occasions.