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Russia has been projecting military power in the Far East near Japan, a key United States ally, by conducting missile drills and deploying a naval flotilla that included a submarine. Japan’s Defense Ministry conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering amid Russia’s activities in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea.
Despite its ongoing war with Ukraine, the Russian military has been active in international waters near Japan this month. It deployed nuclear-capable strategic bombers and conducted a joint naval patrol with China.
Tokyo has warned Moscow about “intensive military activities” in the Far East, where Russia disputes ownership of the Southern Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories.
The Russian Pacific Fleet’s frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov launched Kalibr and Uran cruise missiles successfully hitting a sea target. An officially released video shows firing orders being issued and missiles being launched, but it does not capture footage of them hitting the target. The exact range of the missiles before reaching their target remains unclear.
Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that Russian naval movements around the country included a formation of three vessels—a submarine, a frigate, and a rescue tug—passing through the Tsushima Strait between Wednesday and Thursday. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force monitored these movements as they remained outside Japan’s territorial waters extending up to 13.8 miles from the coastline.
The same group of Russian naval vessels was tracked sailing from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea via the Tsushima Strait between August 14 and 15. Details of their week-long mission in the East China Sea remain unknown.
Japan’s defense white paper for 2025 states that Russia’s military activities near Japan and its surrounding areas are a strong security concern, especially given its strategic partnership with China. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a press conference on August 8: “[Japan] will adhere to its policy of resolving the issue of the ownership of the four northern islands and concluding a peace treaty. Japan-Russia relations continue to be in a difficult situation, but we intend to continue necessary exchanges between Japan and Russia.”
Russia is likely to continue its military activities in the Sea of Japan. It remains to be seen how Japan will bolster its defense posture in the region.
