Russian army redeploying air defense systems and troops from Kuril Islands to Ukraine.

Reportedly, the Russians have relocated several anti-aircraft missile systems from the disputed islands of Etorofu and Kunashiri with Japan. This development was brought to light by both the Militarnyi source and the Japanese publication Kyodo News. Yu Koizumi, a lecturer at the University of Tokyo, conducted an analysis using satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies.
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Elements of a Russian S-300B4 air defense system in the Kuril Islands (Picture source: open source via Militarnyi)

Koizumi's analysis suggests that the relocated surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems could potentially be intended for use in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, as they might have been moved to the European part of Russia. Additionally, he confidently asserts that aging tanks and artillery, previously stored on Sakhalin Island, are being dispatched to the Ukrainian frontlines.

The Russians had initially positioned S-300B4 anti-aircraft missile systems on the disputed islands. A report from Militarnyi details the destruction of an S-300B4 system in the vicinity of Privillya settlement. Elements of this system were also identified near Kasatka Bay and the settlement of Yuzhno-Kurylsk.

Furthermore, troops from the Far East are purportedly being deployed to Ukraine. Koizumi claims that the marine brigade stationed in Vladivostok has suffered substantial losses in the conflict, and some individuals from Etorofu and Kunashiri islands have lost their lives after being mobilized. Koizumi underscores the active engagement of the Russian military in the conflict, noting their deployment of various available weaponry.

Etorofu and Kunashiri represent two of the four contested islands known as Japan's northern territories, yet Russia claims them as the South Kuril Islands. Notably, on October 7, 2022, Ukraine officially recognized the southern Kuril Islands as Japanese territory, despite their occupation by the Russian Federation.

Russian S-300B4 air defense system (Picture source: open source via Militarnyi)

Defense News September 2023