Paramushir is the island hosting the new coastal defense missiles, which lies between Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan, with the Kremlin further describing that it plans a permanent troop deployment to keep the systems operational for year-round service, including military housing and even recreation, akin to a full base.

Russia has long been denounced by Japan and its allies in the West for militarizing the islands, building up a military presence “under the radar” - despite Tokyo also claiming sovereignty over them, which it calls the Northern Territories or Southern Chishima.