World news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-08-21 · by Gavin Blair in Tokyo
Japan's foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, has criticized Russia's missile tests around disputed islands, citing concerns that they strengthen military power in the area and contradict Japan's stance on the territories. According to Russia's Pacific fleet, the drills involved approximately 60 surface ships, submarines, and support vessels, as well as aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems. The exercises were informed to Japan in advance and began on August 4, with a protest lodged by Japan on August 5. The drills are scheduled to continue through August 29.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Russia's Pacific Fleet conducted a missile test off disputed islands in the Sea of Okhotsk, prompting a protest from Japan. The Bastion surface-to-ship missile system was tested on August (no specific date mentioned) with missiles hitting all intended targets at a range of at least 300 kilometres. The exercise simulated an attack on enemy vessels and involved the guided-missile cruiser Varyag, the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, and other ships from Russia's Pacific Fleet. The test was conducted just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the islands, which are claimed by both Japan and Russia, with Tokyo summoning Russia's ambassador to Japan in response. The disputed islands have been a point of contention between the two countries since the end of World War II, when the Soviet Union seized them from Japan. Japan's foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, stated that his country cannot tolerate military power strengthening on the islands.
Written for “Russia Missile Tests Spark Tension” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 1865 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
Japan has criticised missile tests carried out by Russia’s navy around the disputed islands visited by Vladimir Putin last week amid continuing tensions between the two countries.
asserted
Japan → criticise → countries
Russia’s Pacific fleet said on Thursday that it had fired Bastion surface-to-ship missiles from Etorofu, the largest island in the disputed archipelago, simulating an attack on enemy vessels, hitting all of its targets approximately 300km away.
asserted
it → say → targets
Officials said the drills included a nuclear-powered submarine and a guided-missile cruiser, according to reports.
uncertain
drills → say → reports
Putin sparked a tit-for-tat summoning of ambassadors in Tokyo and Moscow with his first visit last week to Etorofu, the largest of the group of four islands.
asserted
Putin → spark → islands
They are referred to as the Northern Territories or Four Northern Islands in Japan, and as part of the Kuril Islands in Russia.
asserted
They → refer → Russia
Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s foreign minister, said on Thursday during a trip to Oman: “We cannot tolerate moves to strengthen military power on the Four Northern Islands because they go against our country’s stance [on the territories].”
Territorial rows over the islands go back to the 19th century. The Soviet Union seized them from Japan at the end of the second world war.
asserted
Union → say → war
Exercises by the Russian fleet began on 4 August and Japan was informed in advance that they would include live-fire drills.
asserted
they → begin → drills
Japan lodged a protest against the large-scale manoeuvres on 5 August.
asserted
Japan → lodge → August
According to the Russian news agency Tass, the drills involved “approximately 60 surface ships, submarines, and support vessels, about 30 aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems of the Pacific fleet’s naval aviation, as well as over 13,000 service members”.
uncertain
drills → accord → aviation
Putin observed some of the exercises from the Varyag on 12 August as part of his trip to the disputed islands and to Sakhalin, the large undisputedly Russian island north of Hokkaido.
asserted
Putin → observe → Hokkaido
“The region is unfortunately becoming increasingly prone to conflict, with Nato seeking to gain a foothold here and the emergence of new military and political blocs,” said Putin, speaking aboard the flagship.
asserted
Putin → become → flagship
“There are efforts and plans to deploy new weapons systems here, which creates threats for our country.”
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which → be → country
The Russian drills are scheduled to continue through 29 August.
asserted
drills → schedule → August
