Russia has formally protested to Japan over the deployment of U.S.-made medium-range missile systems on the island of Kyushu, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The protest, issued earlier this month, warned Tokyo that the presence of the U.S. Typhoon missile systems poses a threat to Russia’s security and regional stability. Russia urged Japan to remove the systems and emphasized the need for Tokyo to take the protest "with the utmost seriousness." The warning came after Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with Akira Muto, Japan’s ambassador to Moscow, to reiterate concerns about the deployment. The tensions come in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the Kuril Islands, a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean that are currently under Russian control. However, Japan also claims sovereignty over these islands, which are known as the Northern Territories in Japan. The dispute dates back to the end of World War II, when the Soviet Union took the islands from Japan. This long-standing disagreement has prevented the two nations from signing a formal peace treaty to end their hostilities. Russia has consistently rejected Japan’s claims, reaffirming its position that it holds "absolute sovereignty" over the southern Kuril Islands. Despite ongoing diplomatic discussions, the issue remains a significant point of contention between the two countries. The recent deployment of U.S. missile systems in Japan has further complicated the situation, raising concerns in Moscow about potential military escalation in the region. The deployment of the Typhoon missile systems, which are capable of striking targets at medium ranges, has drawn attention not only from Russia but also from other regional powers. Japan has not publicly commented on the specific details of the deployment, but it is part of broader military cooperation agreements with the United States. These developments have added another layer of complexity to an already delicate relationship between Russia and Japan, which has been strained by historical grievances and geopolitical interests.