Russia conducts live-fire drill on disputed Kuril Islands after Putin's visit provokes Japan
Russia's Pacific Fleet held a large-scale live-fire exercise on the disputed Kuril Islands, with anti-ship missiles fired from Etorofu as a Bastion system hit targets about 300km away; the drills followed Putin's visit to Etorofu, which drew Tokyo's protests. Putin watched from the cruiser Varyag during the exercise; the activity involved around 60 ships, 30 aircraft and more than 13,000 personnel and runs through August 29, underscoring ongoing tensions over these islands off Japan's Hokkaido.