Vladimir Putin makes first official visit to Kuril Islands

On August 13, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first official visit to the Kuril Islands, a territory at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. After visiting Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin Island, the president traveled to the island of Iturup, where he inspected a fish processing plant.

During the visit, Putin boarded the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser serving as the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, to conduct an inspection. The trip highlights Russia's continued assertion of sovereignty over the islands, which Japan considers its Northern Territories based on historical and international legal grounds.

In response, the Japanese government expressed strong formal protests regarding the visit. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi emphasized that the islands are an integral part of Japan, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations following the president's arrival in the disputed region.