Russia has deployed Bastion coastal missile systems on Paramushir, one of the Kuril Islands in the North Pacific Ocean, part of which Japan claims as its territory. Reuters reports.
The move is part of a wider strengthening of Russia’s defenses in its vast regions in the Far East, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained in relation to US efforts to “contain” Russia and China.
Shoigu spoke to the Russian army command a day after the president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have cemented their partnership “no limits” on talks in the Kremlin with agreements on deeper energy and military cooperation.
“To contain Russia and China, the United States is significantly increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening its political and military ties with its allies, and continuing to build a new American security architecture in this region,” Shoigu said.
In his words Bastion missile systems will strengthen Russian security around the Kuril Islands.
Russia has installed air defense systems on the Kuril Islands
The dispute between Russia and Japan over the islands dates back to the end of World War II
Japan, a close ally of the US, has territorial claims to the four southern Kuril Islands, captured by Soviet forces at the end of World War II. Tokyo lays no claim to Paramushirone of the northern Kuril Islands.
The territorial dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a peace treaty to officially end hostilities.
Separately, Shoigu said that over the past year the Russian armed forces in the eastern part of the country received about 400 units of modern military equipment, including Su-57 jets and anti-aircraft missile systems.
Russia continues to consider the disputed Kuril Islands as its territories
This is how Zakharova responded to Japan’s protests against the ongoing exercises
The military capabilities of the Eastern Military District have greatly increased, he pointed out.
According to the minister the modernization of Moscow’s air defense system will be completed this year.
Russian officials have blamed Kiev for a series of drone attacks deep inside Russian territory since the start of the military campaign in Ukraine.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Shoigu reported that the Russian aerospace forces are destroyed over 20,000 Ukrainian military installations since the beginning of the “special military operation”.
