The Distant Shikotan: A Tour of Russia’s Far Eastern Border Island

With a population of about 2,800, the island also serves as base for a detachment of Russian border guards keeping watch over the country’s eastern reaches.

While Tokyo keeps insisting that the island belongs to Japan, Shikotan, like the rest of the Kuril Islands, remains a sovereign territory of Russia.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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An IS-2 main battle tank seen in the vicinity of Krabzavodskoye settlement on Shikotan island.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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A dead tree seen on the island of Shikotan.

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The Shpanberg Lighthouse, located on Cape Crab of the Shikotan island.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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A border guards settlement located on the shores of Malokurilskaya cove of Shikotan island.

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The view of Shikotan, the largest island of the Lesser Kuril Chain.

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Fishing vessels moored at Krabovaya cove, Shikotan island.

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The Shpanberg Lighthouse, located on Cape Crab of the Shikotan island.

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