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Mock Enemy Vessels Targeted Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
In a bold demonstration of naval power, Russia’s military has conducted live-fire missile drills in the Sea of Japan, targeting mock enemy warships in a high-profile military exercise. The drills, announced by Russia’s Ministry of Defense on Saturday, come amid rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and unresolved territorial disputes with Japan.
Cruise Missiles Hit Simulated Targets
According to official military reports, the operation involved cruise missile launches from Russian warships and coastal defense platforms. All designated targets simulated enemy ships were “successfully hit,” officials claimed.
“The exercise demonstrated the combat readiness of our Pacific Fleet forces,” said Admiral Sergey Avakyants, Commander of the Pacific Fleet. “The crews executed precision strikes using Kalibr and P-800 Oniks missile systems.”
To ensure safety during the drills, Russian authorities temporarily restricted civilian airspace and maritime traffic across large sections of the Sea of Japan.
Part of Broader Military Activity
This latest missile exercise adds to a string of aggressive maneuvers in the region by Moscow. In April, Russian submarines conducted missile tests in the same waters, while in March, the Russian military deployed over 3,000 troops to disputed Kuril Islands, which Japan still claims as its territory.
The Kuril Islands dispute, a lingering conflict from World War II, continues to prevent Moscow and Tokyo from signing a formal peace treaty. Japan lodged a diplomatic protest following Russia’s latest drills, calling them “provocative and destabilizing.”
Japan, U.S., and Regional Response
While Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal statement of concern, no immediate counter-exercises have been announced. However, U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific have reportedly increased surveillance in the region in coordination with Japanese defense officials.
The United States and Japan are expected to hold joint naval exercises in the East China Sea next month, in what analysts view as a possible counter-message to Moscow and Beijing’s growing maritime presence.
Geopolitical Implications
Russia’s missile drills come at a time when its alliance with China appears to be strengthening, with both countries conducting joint air patrols over the Pacific and enhancing military-technical cooperation. Analysts believe the Sea of Japan exercise sends a calculated signal to NATO and U.S.-aligned powers in the region, especially as diplomatic efforts to cool East Asian tensions appear stalled.
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