Russia is conducting drills on islands claimed by Tokyo, Japanese media said on Saturday, days after Moscow halted peace talks with Japan because of its sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The military drills on the Kuril islands involve more than 3,000 troops and hundreds of pieces of army equipment, the Russian news agency Interfax said on Friday, quoting officials from the country’s Eastern Military District.
Some hundreds of military vehicles are participating in the drill under a scenario of launching a counterattack against enemy forces attempting to land, the Kyodo news agency reported.
According to the news agency, Russia is seen as building up its forces on the islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia. The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from concluding a postwar peace treaty.
Japan had earlier condemned Russia for withdrawing from the peace talks and for halting joint economic projects in relation to the islands.
Japan claims the Soviet Union illegally seized the four islands — Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets — soon after Japan’s surrender in World War II in August 1945, while Moscow argues the move was legitimate.
(With inputs from agencies)
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