Volcanic archipelago in Russia’s Far East, stretched between Hokkaido and Kamchatka
European Union sanctions on shadow fleet vessels carrying Russian oil have prompted Moscow to warn that it will respond in kind. Putin has described seizures as piracy and robbery, and Russia says it will act wherever necessary to protect its economic operators. The EU’s latest rules allow selling seized oil cargoes and broaden sanctions on vessels tied to Moscow’s shadow fleet.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Kuril Islands, including Etorofu (Iturup) and Iturup’s fish-processing sites, amid ongoing disputes over the Northern Territories with Japan. Tokyo protests cite historical sovereignty and international law, while Moscow maintains security and strategic interests on the archipelago.