Putin visits Japan‑claimed Kuril island Iturup, Tokyo lodges protest

newsAug 13, 202615660

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first recorded visit to Iturup (Etorofu) in the Kuril island chain, overseeing Pacific Fleet drills and touring the Yasnaya fish processing plant on the occupied island, Reuters and NHK reported. Tokyo lodged a formal protest, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterating that the Northern Territories remain Japan's territory under international law. Putin inspected a warship and Pacific Fleet exercises during the trip; Russian state media said he used the visit to project control over the islands. Japanese officials called the visit provocative and renewed diplomatic protests; Reuters noted Tokyo demanded that Moscow refrain from such visits. On the same occasion Russian officials accused Western navies of interfering with Russian shipping, remarks that accompanied the Pacific Fleet activity but were distinct from Tokyo's protest. The visit keeps the long-running territorial dispute over the Kurils/Northern Territories at the center of Russia Japan bilateral tensions and is likely to prompt further diplomatic exchanges between Tokyo and Moscow.

Kate from Kharkiv

@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social

🇯🇵 PM Takaichi: Japan has repeatedly made similar requests to Russian side that Putin refrain from visiting Northern Territories. We strongly protest Putin's visit to Etorofu Island, Iturup today. Northern Territories are inherent part of Japan's territory, historically and under international law.

17444d ago

Kate from Kharkiv27

This latest visit to Etorofu Island, Iturup by Putin runs contrary to Japan's consistent position regarding Northern Territories. Furthermore, it hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable.

Daedalus11

I dont think Japan comprehends. Russia has no honor and never had honor. It has no understanding of words "respect", "honor", "mutual" or anything like that. What russian Mordor and its orc population only understands is language of force, and fear instilled into them.

David3

Empty words will not make Russia change.

PKs Powerfromspace1 🚀 Last Angry Bernie Brother cast adrift 😒2

Putin is a gangster. Polite request doesn't really work on him.

MyFry1

Have you noticed that lately putin is afraid of making visits in Western part of muscovian empire? I wonder why... ;-)

Löre Wren 🇨🇦1

These islands are fascinating, I hope that one day I can visit them once they've been liberated.

Savchenko Volodymyr

@savchenkoua.bsky.social

🇯🇵‼️ Putin visited Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands claimed by Japan, for the first time, visiting a local fish-processing plant after overseeing Russian Pacific Fleet drills in the Far East, - Reuters Tokyo strongly protested the visit, reiterating its claim to the islands.

14745d ago

Chris Burrows15

About the only place he can be seen with the Russian navy without the risk of being splatted by a Ukrainian drone.

pnwalsh55.bsky.social4

Go on Russia, pick another fight.

siebensiebensieben.bsky.social4

His doubles have much to do recently...

Ronfella4

A missed chance to get him.

SOSAAHIPeter3

Please do not be that gullible: That person is not V. Putin, but one of his doubles or stand-ins.

Jumpingaround2

how about fucking Japan send lethal aid to Ukraine?! Same with fucking South Korea. Fucking hypocrites… and cowards…

UNITED24 Media

@united24media.com

🤨 Japan has strongly protested Vladimir Putin’s first-ever visit to Iturup in the Kuril Islands. Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterated that the Northern Territories remain an integral part of Japan historically and under international law.

13145d ago

Mathias Bavay23

I guess Japan will slowly start to understand that neutrality towards Russia is not an option...

Fredin11

Talk to Ukraine, develop some nice sea and air drones on license, then push the russians out 😁

Sepitus6

The real question is, what will Japan do about it.... Besides nothing. 🙄

Francis-Lematt2

South Korea also illegally occupies a Japanese island so if Japan sends military to retake these northern territories SK next. It’s not a simple task.

Kastero2

The fact that the de-nazifier was not exposed to a civilian arrest, with the purpose of handing him over to the ICC. And that the surrounding people are generally just laughing at his jokes, could indicate to the Japanese, which nation the inhabitants of the Islands feel most connected to. Despite:

quagmiro.bsky.social1

This is the Temu body double.

Quoting this

Michael Gentile3

Japan needs to specially operate him out of there.

Tim White

@twmcltd.bsky.social

Japan has just posted this angry statement after Putin (or one of his lookalikes) turned up in one of the occupied Northern Territories as Tokyo calls them, or Kuril Islands as Russians know them Putin visited the Yasny fish processing plant on Iturup and met a crowd of settlers

7345d ago

Tim White125

Ukraine looks to have eliminated a traitor on occupied Crimea. The Mayor of Sevastopol says 5 died. An explosive device probably in a bin detonated. He claims sappers and a security guard were killed, but the first victim is Robert Shageev, a navy captain, who defected when Crimea was invaded.

Tommy R Vaske2

I wonder if the muscovy still have some military presence of significance there... A speculation of mine from a few months back, was that Japan might make a move on the islands – if they only managed to convince Beijing to not interfere.

kenguru.bsky.social2

As they say in Japan, 消える失せろ (kieruusero) loosely translated as p*ss off.

notrite132.bsky.social1

I'm glad one leader DISAPPROVES of Putins visit. Ours let him land in Alaska. Really got most of us pi$$ed off.

KSaburof1

> met a crowd of settlers bet it was most probably crowd of FSB actors :)

POLITICO Europe

@politico.eu

Authorities in Tokyo have lashed out at Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed island of Iturup today.

3045d ago

European Democrats

@europeandemocrats.wsocial.eu

Today, Vladimir #Putin visited Iturup, one of the disputed islands Japan calls its #NorthernTerritories, after inspecting #Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Tokyo has lodged a strong protest. Pina Picierno, Vice-President of the European Parliament, is unequivocal: the Kremlin’s imperialism is on full display

1845d ago

Steve Herman

@newsguy.bsky.social

Russian President Putin infuriates Japan with surprise visit to disputed island. www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ne...

1145d ago

The Japan Times

@japantimes.co.jp

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit Thursday to a group of Russian-held islands off the east coast of Hokkaido that are claimed by Japan, sparking strong pushback by Tokyo.

1045d ago

Scott Horton

@robertscotthorton.bsky.social

A perfect demonstration of Putin-style diplomacy: goad and offend your neighbors whenever possible. A true G-man. www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...

1445d ago

Chris Tyrell1

The Island Stalin took after he declared war on them after the bomb was dropped, those Islands.

jim0novak.bsky.social1

Japan should use this moment to take their country back from Russia.

AFP News Agency

@en.afp.com

🇯🇵 🇷🇺 President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's far-eastern Kuril islands for the first time on Thursday, prompting protests by Japan which also claims the territory. ➡️ u.afp.com/SH8U

1345d ago

OSINTRadar

@osintradar.bsky.social

Putin said that the Russian people have "the genetic code of victors" during his visit to the disputed Kuril island of Iturup.

1445d ago

reconron

@thereccelizard.bsky.social

Several SFS/VIP aircraft have recently flown to Iturup Island and I am wondering if Putin will also go there. Iturup is the largest of the Kuril islands and was occupied by the Soviet Union after WWII and Japanese inhabitants were expelled to mainland JPN. Ownership of the island is still disputed.

946d ago

Pax Lusitanica

@paxlusitanica.bsky.social

The inhabitants of Iturup - or, in the original Japanese, Etorofu - could have taken up a few issues with Putin on the occasion. www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/25/f...

844d ago

Inside Ukraine 🇺🇦

@insideukraine.bsky.social

❕Putin visited Iturup Island in the Kuril Islands, which is claimed by Japan. Tokyo reacted. During his visit to the island, Putin toured the "Yasnaya" fish processing plant, where he was shown various fish products, including tuna and cod.

444d ago

Sense Hofstede

@sensehofstede.nl

Reuters: Russia’s Putin visits Japan-claimed islands for first time; Tokyo protests – ‘Iturup, ‌a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido’

445d ago

3 sources

reuters.comRussia's Putin visits Japan-claimed islands for first time; Tokyo protests cronicacentral.comPutin visita por primera vez las islas Kuriles y Japón presenta una protesta formal indiatoday.inPutin visits Kuril Islands, drawing sharp protest from Japan

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Putin visits Japan‑claimed Kuril island Iturup, Tokyo lodges protest

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