Japan Admits Need to Counter Espionage After Russian ‘Den of Spies’ Report

By AFP July 14, 2026 Viridianaor / pexels Japan has said that it recognizes the need to counter foreign intelligence better after the New York Times reported that Russia had turned the country into a "den of spies" and a key source of weapons components. The newspaper, in an investigation published Sunday, reported that thanks to "weak espionage laws," Moscow was using Japan as a hub for intelligence gathering and procurement of dual-use technology needed for its war in Ukraine. "We recognise that in a rapidly changing security environment there is a growing need to counter foreign intelligence activities — such as the acquisition of critical information — that threaten Japan's national security," chief government spokesman Minoru Kihara said on Monday. Declining to comment directly on NYT's report, Kihara told reporters that Tokyo "must address this issue with even greater rigor." Kihara added that Japan's parliament this year approved legislation paving the way for the creation of a new national body to coordinate its fragmented intelligence activities. The NYT report cited Ukrainian government estimates that 90% of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components. It said that Russia's operations in Japan were being run by Maksim Vladimirovich Filchenkov, a Russian intelligence operative working under cover at the Tokyo office of Russian airline Aeroflot. Because direct exports to Russia are restricted, procurement networks use intermediary companies and third countries like Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka to move components into Russia, the report added. Read more about: Japan , Espionage Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Two Germans Face Trial in Russian Spying Case The pair are accused of working with a Russian businessman to "procure sensitive information" from Germany's BND foreign intelligence. 3 Min read Japan Expels Russian Consul in Tit-for-Tat Move Japan has ordered a senior Russian official stationed in the country to leave in retaliation for the expulsion of a Japanese diplomat over alleged spying... Russia Detains Japanese Journalist in Espionage Row With Tokyo Japanese media reported that a former employee leaked the information to two Russian officials suspected of espionage. Ukrainian Journalist Detained in Moscow Accused of Spying Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused a Ukrainian journalist detained in Moscow of espionage. The FSB called Roman Sushchenko “an operative...