Tag: kuril islands

Russia Asserts Control Over Disputed Kuril Islands Amid Regional Tensions

Russia flexes its military muscle in the disputed Kuril Islands, with a massive Pacific Fleet exercise and a high-profile visit from Vladimir Putin, signaling Moscow's determination to assert its control over the strategically vital territory. Putin's trip to Iturup, the first by a senior Russian official since the Ukraine war began, has likely raised the stakes in the long-standing dispute with Japan.