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Russian President Vladimir Putin made a visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, specifically Iturup, also known as Etorofu in Japan, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. This move has sparked strong condemnation from Tokyo, which maintains its claim over the islands.

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The visit "hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable."

The Kuril chain, located near Japan's main islands, was seized by Moscow in the final days of World War Two, shortly after Japan's surrender. Japan has consistently asserted its claim to these islands and views their return as a prerequisite for concluding a formal peace treaty with Russia, which would also unlock closer economic ties.

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We hope that the Russian side will take the seriousness of this matter fully to heart.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the visit "hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable." She expressed hope that Russia would "take the seriousness of this matter fully to heart." However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed these comments, calling them "extremely outrageous and absolutely unacceptable." Zakharova reiterated Russia's position that Iturup, like all the Kurils, is an "integral part of our country" and criticized Japanese officials for attempting to dictate where the Russian leader can travel within his own nation.

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cause extreme outrage and are absolutely unacceptable.

The visit occurs amidst heightened tensions between Moscow and Tokyo, exacerbated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led Japan to join international sanctions against Russia. Putin's trip to the island chain, which included visits to a school, hospital, and fish-processing plant, took place just two days before Japan's commemoration of the 81st anniversary of its World War Two surrender. The Russian embassy in Tokyo further reinforced Moscow's stance, stating that the islands are an integral part of Russia acquired on "legitimate international grounds" and that the president's travels within Russia are not subject to discussion with foreign states.

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legally, like all the Kurils, an integral part of our country.