Putin makes first visit to Russian-held Etorofu island contested by Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Etorofu island on Thursday, according to Russia's Tass news agency. It was his first visit to the Russian-controlled island chain off Hokkaido that Japan also claims.

Etorofu is one of four islands Japan calls the "Northern Territories," a dispute dating back to the end of World War II. Russia refers to the area as the Southern Kurils.

The visit comes amid strained Russia-Japan ties over economic sanctions Tokyo has imposed on Moscow in connection with the war in Ukraine.

Japan has repeatedly protested visits by Russian officials to the area, viewing them as escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.