Russia has continued to project military power in the Far East near Japan—a key United States ally—by conducting missile drills and deploying a naval flotilla that included a submarine.
Japan‘s Defense Ministry said it conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering amid Russia‘s military activities in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea.
Why It Matters
Despite its war against Ukraine, the Russian military has been active in international waters and airspace near Japan this month, such as deploying nuclear-capable strategic bombers and conducting a joint naval patrol with China.
Tokyo has warned of Moscow’s “intensive military activities” in the Far East, where the two nations dispute the ownership of the Russia-administered Southern Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories.
What To Know
Citing the Russian Pacific Fleet, the state-run Tass news agency reported on Thursday that the fleet’s frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov had launched Kalibr and Uran “high-precision” cruise missiles, successfully destroying a sea target in an undisclosed area of the Sea of Japan.
Officially released video shows the crew issuing firing orders and launching missiles, but only captures a few seconds after launch and does not include footage of them hitting the target. It also remains unclear how far the missiles traveled before reaching the target.
[Aug. 21] MoD RF:The crew of the Project 1155M frigate “Marshal Shaposhnikov” has fired cruise missiles from Kalibr-NK and Uran missile systems at a sea target in the Sea of Japan.https://t.co/LHZVc4ECnR pic.twitter.com/TQ9Whap6fo
— Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) August 21, 2025
The Marshal Shaposhnikov was originally built as a large anti-submarine warship, according to Tass. Between 2016 and 2021, the ship underwent repairs, modernization, and trials to convert it into a frigate, during which it was upgraded with Kalibr and Uran missiles.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported recent Russian naval movements around the country, where a formation of three vessels—a submarine, a frigate, and a rescue tug—was spotted passing through the Tsushima Strait between Wednesday and Thursday, local time.
The strait lies between the Korean Peninsula to the west and the Japanese archipelago to the east, connecting the East China Sea in the southwest with the Sea of Japan in the northeast.
A map provided by Japan’s Defense Ministry shows the Russian vessels remained outside Japan’s territorial waters, which extend up to 13.8 miles from the coastline, and were under the surveillance of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during their northeastward voyage.
８／２０～２１、ロシア海軍キロ改級潜水艦、ステレグシチー級フリゲート及びバクラザン級救難えい船の計３隻が、対馬海峡を北東進し、日本海へ向けて航行したことを確認しました。#防衛省・自衛隊 は、引き続き #警戒監視・情報収集 を実施します。https://t.co/JE9LpoBG1T pic.twitter.com/ibj3mOyYrJ
— 防衛省統合幕僚監部 (@jointstaffpa) August 21, 2025
The same group of Russian naval vessels was tracked sailing from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea via the Tsushima Strait between August 14 and 15, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry. Details of its week-long mission in the East China Sea remain unknown.
What People Are Saying
According to Japan’s defense white paper for 2025: “The Russian military is continuing active military activities in the vicinity of Japan and its surrounding areas, showing its tendency to deploy the latest military equipment in the Far East. Russia’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, coupled with its strategic partnership with China, are posing a strong security concern.”
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a press conference on August 8: “[Japan] will adhere to its policy of resolving the issue of the ownership of the four northern islands [Southern Kuril Islands] and concluding a peace treaty. Japan-Russia relations continue to be in a difficult situation, but we intend to continue the necessary exchanges between Japan and Russia. I would like to continue exchanges with the Russian side in order to resolve the situation.”
What Happens Next
Russia is likely to continue its military activities in the Sea of Japan. It remains to be seen how Japan will bolster its defense posture in the region.
The post Russia Puts On Show of Force on US Ally’s Doorstep appeared first on Newsweek.
