Northeast Asian island, Russia’s largest and strategically contested
European nations and the UK are intensifying efforts to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet, with new EU sanctions allowing the sale of seized Russian oil cargoes. Putin warns that seizures amount to piracy and promises a response, while Western and Russian officials describe a growing maritime confrontation surrounding sanctioned oil shipments.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup (Etorofu) in the disputed Kuril Islands, watched Pacific Fleet naval drills including live-fire missile launches, and toured a fish-processing plant, hospital and school. Japan has summoned the Russian ambassador and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi have called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," reaffirming Tokyo's claim to the islands.
The Pacific Fleet has fired Bastion coastal missiles from Etorofu, simulating an attack on enemy ships at about 300km. A submarine and a guided-missile cruiser took part, with exercises running from 4 August to 29 August and prompting protests from Japan over regional territorial disputes.
Russian authorities have arrested a Japanese reporter identified as Yuki Imai of the Hokkaido Shimbun on Sakhalin and flown him to Moscow on suspicion of gathering information on Russia's defence capabilities for Japanese intelligence. Tokyo has demanded consular access, summoned Russia's ambassador and called for the reporter's fair treatment; Moscow says the case is not isolated.
Japan has repeatedly demanded consular access and the journalist’s immediate release after a Japanese national working for Hokkaido Shimbun was detained on Sakhalin Island on espionage suspicions. Tokyo cites a consular-right protocol and a long-running Kuril dispute as context for Moscow's handling.