Russian Navy Tests Regional Boundaries With Modern Missile Corvette Pacific Transit Near Japan

Japan has confirmed that a modern Russian Navy corvette transited one of the country’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints, underscoring continued Russian naval activity near the Japanese archipelago amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a statement released by the Japan Ministry of Defense Joint Staff on February 2.

A Steregushchiy III–class corvette identified as Gremyashchiy (hull number 337) sailed eastward through the Tsugaru Strait on Sunday before entering the Pacific Ocean.

The transit was first detected at around 8:00 a.m. local time, roughly 130 kilometers west of Cape Tappi in Aomori Prefecture, with the vessel moving southeast toward the strait separating Japan’s Honshu and Hokkaido islands.

The Tsugaru Strait is an international waterway linking the Sea of Japan with the Pacific and is routinely monitored by Japanese forces due to its strategic importance.

The ministry said the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force tracked the Russian warship throughout its passage using the escort ship Chikuma of the 15th Escort Division, based in Ominato, as well as a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from the 2nd Air Group stationed at Hachinohe.

Japanese assets conducted surveillance and intelligence collection until the corvette exited the strait and continued into the Pacific. Officials stressed that the operation remained limited to monitoring and data gathering, in line with standard procedures, and confirmed that the Russian vessel did not violate Japanese territorial waters or airspace.

Gremyashchiy is part of Russia’s Project 20385 program, an upgraded variant of the Steregushchiy-class corvettes.

These ships are designed for multi-role missions including surface combat, anti-submarine warfare, and air defense, and are equipped with guided missiles and advanced sensor systems, making them among the more capable small surface combatants in the Russian Navy.

While Japan did not disclose the ship’s port of departure or destination, the transit highlights continued Russian naval operations near Japan.

Russian naval movements around Japan have persisted since the start of the war in Ukraine, with Moscow maintaining activity across the Pacific and Far East. In response, Japan has expanded surveillance operations and public reporting to emphasize readiness, transparency, and regional security awareness.

Earlier, a Russian intelligence officer allegedly operating under diplomatic cover in Japan was accused of industrial espionage.

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