The Japanese government has lodged a formal protest after Russia notified Tokyo of plans to conduct live-fire military exercises near the disputed Northern Territories from August 1 to September 1.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian government issued the notice on July 28, warning of firing drills in waters north of Shikotan Island. The announcement included navigation warnings for the duration of the exercises.
In response, the director of the Foreign Ministry’s Russia Division summoned officials from the Russian Embassy in Tokyo on the same day and conveyed Japan’s objection.
“Russia’s military buildup on the Northern Territories is incompatible with Japan’s position and is unacceptable,” the ministry said.
Tokyo maintains sovereignty over the four islands off Hokkaido—known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils—that were seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.
The August drills are not isolated. Russia has stepped up its military activity around the contested islands this year, previously notifying Japan of exercises in April and again between June and July. Japanese officials argue that such actions heighten tensions and complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the decades-long territorial dispute.
The Foreign Ministry underscored that Russia’s repeated drills undermine regional stability and run counter to Japan’s efforts to pursue dialogue. However, Moscow has continued to justify its actions as part of routine training.
While the exercises are set to continue through the end of August, Tokyo has reiterated that it does not accept Russia’s presence on the islands or any related military activity. Officials stressed that Japan will continue to communicate its position firmly through diplomatic channels.
The protest comes as security conditions in Northeast Asia remain strained. Russian military maneuvers have expanded across the region in parallel with growing coordination with China. For Japan, already contending with heightened Chinese activity in the East China Sea and North Korean missile launches, the Northern Territories issue remains a longstanding flashpoint.
Japanese officials say they will monitor the Russian exercises closely.
“The government will continue to take a strong stance in protecting Japan’s sovereignty and territory,” the Foreign Ministry said in its statement.
The exercises near Shikotan underscore the enduring friction in Russo-Japanese relations.