Putin Visits the Kuril Islands in Person for the First Time

Dragon Media News Desk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first in-person visit to the Kuril Islands, arriving on Iturup Island as part of a working tour of Siberia and Russia’s Far East.

During the visit, Putin inspected the Yasny fish-processing facility. Senior Russian leaders have visited the Kuril Islands on several previous occasions, but this marks Putin’s first personal visit to the archipelago as president.

Japan lodged a protest with Russia following the visit. Sovereignty over the southern part of the Kuril Islands has remained a longstanding point of dispute between Moscow and Tokyo.