Russia planned to attack Japan in 2021 according to leaked FSB letters: Report

Russia in 2021 was preparing to attack Japan just months before Russia's President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, new leaked letters from  Federal Security Service of Russian Federation (FSB),  successor ncy to Soviet Union's KGB accessed by Newsweek revealed. An email sent by a whistleblower at FSB dubbed 'Wind of Change' on March 17 to Russian human-rights activist Vladimir Osechkin revealed that Russia president Vladimir Putin was "quite seriously preparing for a localized military conflict with Japan" in August. This came just months before Russia launched a military intervention in neighbouring Ukraine. 

"Confidence that countries would enter st of acute confrontation and even war was high. Why Ukraine was chosen for war in end [ scenario was t changed much] is for ors to answer," email read. 

Movements of Russian helicopters to target Japan 

FSB whistleblower detailed  movements of Russian helicopters that were preparing to target Japan. Russia's cyber propaganda machine was launched around same time that was labellong Japanese as "Nazis" and "fascists." Ties between Russia and Japan thrawted over signing of peace treaty to formally end World War II which wasn't done by governments on wir side. two countries also have bilateral disputes over a group of islands occupied by Russia, that Japan lays its sovereign claims on. 

In March, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi referred to Kuril Islands as an integral part of Japan and t Russia. During a debate in National Diet (Parliament), he termed region as original territories of Japan. Affirming that Japan's stance on long-standing disputed territory remains unchanged, Minister said islands are 'primordially Japanese' escalating tensions.  Japanese Minister stressed that Russia's occupation in Islands contradicts international rules based order as he also slammed invasion of Ukraine. Moscow meanwhile responded saying that it would give a Russian name to Kuril Islands. While Moscow terms  isles part of its Kuril chain, Japan calls its rrn Territories.

Kuril Islands dispute between Japan & Russia

Japan lays territorial claims on what Russia calls  Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai islands in Kuril Island chain. Russia argues that based on 1855 bilateral treaty on trade and borders, Kremlin holds  rights and sovereignty on archipalago. Both Soviet Union and Japan in 1956 signed a declaration wherein Moscow agreed to consider chances of transferring Shikotan and Habomai islands to Japan, while  Iturup, Kunashir islands were t mentioned in enforceable contract. While Japan continued to consider un-named islands as part of solution to issue, it did t even up its claims to all islands. Japan has also repeatedly raised strong objections to Russia conducting military drills close to South Kuril Islands after being informed of firing drills near Kunashir Islands.