Russia to establish military air base on disputed Kuril Islands
The Russian Ministry of Defense received permission from the government to use the airfield on the Kuril Island of Iturup as an air base, according to an order signed by the Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev.
"The "Sakhalin Region" section of the list of joint base aerodromes of the Russian Federation to be supplemented with the following entry: Iturup - civil - the Ministry of Defense of Russia," the document says.
In 2016, Bastion and Bal coastal missile systems were deployed to the southern islands of Iturup and Kunashir of the Kuril Ridge. In 2015, Tor-M2U anti-aircraft missile systems were put on combat duty on these islands.
At the end of last year it was reported that in the near future Russia will begin work will begin on a new navy base in the Kurils. The navy base will be able to accept any ships, including large-displacement vessels.