Russian servicemen conducted exercises on one of the disputed Kuril Islands, which Japan and considers to be its territory, Reuters reported, referring to today's statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The announcement of the department was distributed by the Russian agency Interfax, BTA reported.
Military units practiced movement and camouflage of their vehicles on the island of Matua, in the central part of the Kuril chain, the information specifies.
Soviet troops captured the four islands north of the Japanese island of Hokkaido at the end of World War II, and they remained in Moscow's possession. This prevented the conclusion of a peace treaty between Japan and the USSR, and subsequently Russia, Reuters recalls.