Russia deploys advanced S-300 missiles on disputed islands off Japan
Moscow said in October it planned to deploy the missile system on the islands for the first time, but that the move would be part of military drills and not for combat duty.
Former residents offer prayers from the air off Russian-held islets
According to the government of Hokkaido, a total of some 130 former residents will take the five flights to pray for ancestors who were buried on the islands.
The visit, the first by a Russian government official since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office, is expected to draw backlash from Tokyo.
Japan eager to settle territorial row with Russia, Suga tells Putin
Hours before the talks between the leaders, Russia announced the start of military exercises on two of the islands involving more than 1,500 personnel.
Japan's visa-free visits to Russian-held isles canceled this year due to virus
Former residents had already stopped six trips that would have allowed them to visit their former homes, and the final one has now been axed as well.
Ex-resident of Russian-held isle resolved to pass on his story
The number of former Japanese islanders has fallen to some 5,700, from about 17,000 in the past, with the average age now 85.
Russian minister visits disputed island off Japan's Hokkaido
Russian emergencies minister Yevgeny Zinichev on Wednesday visited an island claimed by Japan off Hokkaido that is at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries. It is the first visit to one of the four disputed islands by a senior Russian ...
Flights over Russian-held isles eyed as virus stalls visa-free visits
The Hokkaido Prefectural Government is considering chartering a plane to be flown near the disputed islands in October to November, the officials said.
Russian authorities notified Japan on June 17 of a plan to conduct the survey in the Sea of Okhotsk between June 18 and Sept. 18.
Abe to skip 75th anniversary parade in Moscow marking Nazis' WWII defeat
The trip was scratched by the coronavirus, and a forum where the two leaders were to discuss the disputed Russian-held isles off Hokkaido has also been canceled.
Russia proposes shelving jurisdiction issue in isle talks with Japan
Russia has proposed that the stalemated issue of legal jurisdiction over joint economic activities with Japan on disputed islands be shelved, sources close to the two countries' relations said Saturday. While the proposal is Moscow's compromise in talks on promotion of joint activities as a ...
Japan renews claim on Russian-held isles in foreign policy report
The issue has prevented the two countries from signing a World War II peace treaty even 75 years after the end of the conflict.
