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Thursday, 13 August 2026

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Vladimir Putin makes first visit to the Kuril Islands

The Russian president visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, prompting a strong response from Japan.

Vladimir Putin makes first visit to the Kuril Islands
Photo: Russian President’s official website · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled for the first time to the Kuril Islands, located in the Far East. This visit was reported by Russian state media, highlighting its unprecedented nature.

Japan's reaction was immediate, with the foreign minister stating that this visit was unacceptable, asserting that the archipelago is an inherent part of Japanese territory. Japan has thus strongly protested against Putin's visit.

The Kuril Islands are at the center of a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan, which has never been resolved since World War II. Putin's visit to this contested region could further complicate relations between the two countries.