Russia Deploys Bal, Bastion Coastal Missile Systems to Kuril Islands

Russia has deployed the Bal and Bastion mobile anti-ship missile systems to its far eastern Kuril Islands, the Pacific Fleet’s official newspaper reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier this year, the Bastion coastal defense missile system assumed combat duty and the forming of the second missile battalion is currently ongoing, the Boyevaya Vakhta newspaper said.

According to the publication, the personnel of the coastal missile division Bal has been actively working to prepare and conduct firing exercises in the Japan Sea since May 2015.

The Bastion fires supersonic Oniks cruise missiles, with a range of up to 280 miles and could be used against ships and targets on the ground.

The Kuril Islands are the subject of the long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Japan lays claims to Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets. The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty after the World War II.