Russian Navy considers building base in Kuril Islands
Japan shows concern at Russian plans
by Ian Greenhalgh
Last Friday The Russian Defense Ministry announced it will begin deploying new military hardware to the Kuril Islands and may even establish a new naval base somewhere in the island chain.Today Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced Russia would deploy state of the art coastal missile defense systems to the Kurils; the apparent goal is to create an area-denial zone around the island chain similar to those recently established in Crimea and Syria. While these moves are seen as provocative by some, most notably the Japanese; Russia is ostensibly bolstering defenses that have become outdated and ineffective rather than making any aggressive moves.
The Kuril Islands are a disputed territory close to Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan and Russian military fortification there would doubtless upset Tokyo. Ownership of the Kuril Islands has changed hands between Russia and Japan several times; currently the islands are under Russian control, having been seized by the Soviet Union in the aftermath of World War II. However, both Tokyo and Moscow claim sovereignty over the four islands.
Russian Navy may create Pacific Fleet base in Kuril Islands — defense minister
Russia plans to deploy coastal missile systems and drones in the Kurils in 2016MOSCOW, March 25, http://tass.ru/en/defense/865081
Russia this year will deploy coastal missile systems and drones of a new generation in the Kuril islands, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Friday.
“Military units in the Kuril islands are being rearmed in keeping with the original schedule. This year coastal missile systems Bal and Bastion and new generation drones Eleron-3 will be deployed there,” Shoigu told the Defense Ministry’s board meeting.
According to the minister, the Russian Navy’s specialists will start a three-month expedition next month to explore the islands of the Greater Kuril Ridge for the possibility of creating a Pacific Fleet base there.
“In April, Pacific Fleet specialists will begin a three-month reconnoitering mission on the Greater Kuril Ridge. Their main task will be to see if it will be possible to create a Pacific Fleet base on the islands,” Shoigu told the ministry board meeting.
Earlier, Shoigu announced that the Defense Ministry planned to put the finishing touches to military infrastructures in the Kuril islands later this year. Last year air defense units armed with short range air defense systems Tor-M2U went operational in the Kurils.
Russia and Japan have no peace treaty signed after World War II. Settlement of the problem inherited by Russia’s diplomacy from the Soviet Union is hampered by the years-long dispute over the four islands of Russia’s Southern Kurils – Shikotan, Khabomai, Iturup and Kunashir, which Japan calls its northern territories.
After World War II, in September 1945, Japan signed the capitulation, and in February 1946, the Kuril Islands were declared territories of the Soviet Union.
During the Cold War, Moscow did not recognize the territorial problem, but in October 1993, when Russian president Boris Yeltsin was on an official visit in Japan, the existence of the problem was confirmed officially. However, the two countries have reached no compromise over the dispute yet.
Japan concerned over possible set-up of Russian Pacific Fleet base in Kurils
Russia’s Pacific Fleet sailors will start a three month-long expedition to islands of the Greater Kuril Ridge in April for studying the possibilities of setting up a Pacific Fleet base there in futureTOKYO, March 28, http://tass.ru/en/world/865467
The Japanese Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s recent statement that Russia’s Pacific Fleet will consider possibilities of setting up a base on the Kuril Islands.
The Russian Embassy in Tokyo confirmed on Monday that Director of Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Russian Division Tokuda Shuichi held a meeting with Russian Ambassador in Japan Dmitry Birichevsky.
“We are concerned with this statement by Defense Minister Shoigu,” Tokuda said. “If these words mean strengthening military infrastructure on northern territories (Kuril Islands), then this fact concerns us,” he added.
On March 25 Shoigu said at the session of the defense ministry’s collegium that “Pacific Fleet sailors will start a three month-long expedition to islands of the Greater Kuril Ridge in April.” “Their main goal is to study the possibilities of setting up a Pacific Fleet base there in future,” he added.
The defense minister said earlier that Russia would deploy Bal and Bastion coastal defense missile systems and new-generation Eleron-3 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the Kuril Islands in 2016.
Tor-M2U (NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet) short-range surface-to-air missile systems assumed combat duty on the Kuril Islands last year.
https://youtu.be/Ds-scwYHj38
Russian anti-air Tor-M2U firing on move, newest S-300V4 night shooting 2016 نوێترین چهکی ڕووسی
After World War II, in September 1945, Japan signed the capitulation, and in February 1946, the Kuril Islands were declared territories of the Soviet Union.
During the Cold War, Moscow did not recognize the territorial problem, but in October 1993, when Russian president Boris Yeltsin was on an official visit in Japan, the existence of the problem was confirmed officially. However, the two countries have reached no compromise over the dispute yet.
Russia’s Pacific Fleet in pictures
Russia’s Pacific Fleet takes it beginning on May 21 1731, when Okhotsk Military Flotilla was created to transport goods to and from far-eastern Kamchatka.Today, the Pacific Fleet celebrates its 283rd anniversary. The fleet includes over forty warships and over 20 submarines.
Currently, ships of the fleet participate in joint Russian-Chinese Naval Interaction 2014 drills.
Images of the Pacific Fleet by ITAR-TASS.
http://tass.ru/en/russia/732413
