Russian President Vladimir Putin has given the defense ministry a clear directive through the head of the ministry, Sergei Shoigu: explore the feasibility of establishing a navigation facility for the Pacific Fleet on Sakhalin. The move follows recent official communications from the Kremlin and signals a renewed interest in enhancing the region’s military logistics and maritime command capabilities.
The proposal under consideration envisions building a new navigation system facility on Cape Aniva, located on Sakhalin Island. As part of this plan, discussions are underway about transferring the Aniva lighthouse to Sakhalin’s administration and outlining who would finance the construction and ongoing operation. The leadership wants to ensure a robust, self-sustaining infrastructure network that supports long-distance sea movements and coordinated fleet activity in the western Pacific. This initiative is framed as part of a broader effort to strengthen regional security, improve navigation reliability, and ensure local authorities can manage key maritime assets directly.
In related activity, naval aviation has conducted training missions over the Pacific Ocean, focusing on anti-submarine capabilities. The Tu-142M3 aircraft performed a series of exercises designed to simulate the detection and tracking of a notional hostile submarine. During these sorties, crews employed radar and hydroacoustic equipment to locate the target, followed by a simulated interception and continuous surveillance. When the scenario identified the submarine, a surface unit from the Pacific Fleet was able to receive real-time position data from the aircrew to coordinate a response. This sequence highlighted integration between air and surface forces in a simulated security environment and demonstrated procedures for rapid response in a contested maritime domain.
Earlier reports described joint drills where two ships from the Pacific Fleet carried out defense exercises near the fleet’s Vladivostok base. The operations tested the readiness of surface forces against an in-flight drone threat. In the exercise, an electronic warfare system disabled the drone, after which artillery units conducted a controlled engagement to demonstrate defensive kill-chain effectiveness. These activities underscore ongoing efforts to refine layered maritime defense, improve coordination under electronic warfare conditions, and showcase the fleet’s readiness to deter and respond to aerial incursions near key installations.
Across these events, officials emphasize the strategic value of integrated systems for navigation, surveillance, and force protection in the Western Pacific region. By exploring new infrastructure on Sakhalin and reinforcing the training of air and surface elements, the Russian military aims to maintain a resilient posture capable of supporting sustained naval operations in challenging conditions. Observers note that such measures also reflect broader regional dynamics and the importance placed on safeguarding maritime corridors that connect critical ports, shipping lanes, and logistical hubs. Attribution for these developments is provided by official channels within the Kremlin and the defense ministry, indicating a formal stance on advancing capabilities in the Pacific theater.