TOKYO: The Russian Navy’s Pacific Ocean Fleet posted on social media on Thursday that Russia conducted an exercise and fired land-to-ship and other missiles near the northern territories.
It is assumed that Etorofu Island, one of the islands of the northern territories off Hokkaido that is occupied by Russia and where Russian President Vladimir Putin visited on Aug. 13, is among the missile launch sites.
By showing off its military strength, Russia seems to be asserting, yet again, that the country is effectively controlling the islands.
According to the post, it was part of the fleet’s regular drills, and the targets were vessels of a hypothetical enemy. Anti-ship missiles were fired from a missile cruiser, while cruise missiles were fired from a nuclear submarine.
Land-to-ship missiles were fired from one of the islands of the northern territories using the Bastion system, which was deployed to Etorofu Island by the Russian military in 2016.
During the drill, the system was reportedly successful in destroying all the targets more than 300 kilometres away.
On Aug. 4, the Russian Defence Ministry said the fleet would conduct the drill. The ministry notified Japan that the drill would take place around Etorofu Island. It said the exercise would include live-fire drills from Aug. 10-15 and missile-firing drills from Aug. 16-22.
On Tuesday, Russia summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s criticism against Putin’s visit to Etorofu Island. - Japan News/ANN
