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Russian border guards opened fire on two Japanese fishing boats near the disputed South Kuril islands on Monday, escalating a long-simmering territorial row with Japan.
One crew member was wounded when a Russian patrol boat hit one of the ships, Anatoly Prokopev, spokesman for the border guards in Moscow, said during a telephone interview.
Russian border guards have complained about Japanese poaching for over a year now.
Prokopev said there had been 50 illegal entries into Russian territorial waters since Aug. 6.
Monday's shooting could be repeated if poachers attempt to enter Russian waters again, he told The Moscow Times.
The incident may rekindle a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan because it took place near four Kuril islands that are claimed by Tokyo but have been controlled by Moscow ever since World War II.
Prokopev said the patrol attacked when the unmarked ships ignored repeated warnings and warning shots and tried to flee Russian waters.
The damaged boat was towed to shore.
The crew of four members was detained.
The other ship escaped.
According to Prokopev, the crew admitted guilt and were awaiting a formal arrest.
Japanese Embassy spokesman Yoshitaka Akimoto said Japan had demanded an explanation from the Foreign Ministry.
Additionally, Akimoto commented that it was "too early to state our position because we don't know the details."
"If this incident happened in our sovereign territory, including the territorial waters surrounding the four islands, it is totally unacceptable that the Russians attacked our official boat," Akimoto said in a telephone interview Monday.
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