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The '''Kuril Islands''' are a chain of 22 primary [[island]]s and 32 small [[islet]]s in the [[Russian Far East]], part of Sakhalinskaya Oblast' (Сахалинская область). The island chain is divided into three areas: the Northern Kuril Islands, the Central Kuril Islands and the Southern Kuril Islands.  The Kuril Islands sit on top of a geological composition called the Greater Kuril Ridge.

The '''Kuril Islands''' are a chain of 22 primary [[island]]s and 32 small [[islet]]s in the [[Russian Far East]], part of Sakhalinskaya Oblast' (Сахалинская область). The island chain is divided into three areas: the Northern Kuril Islands, the Central Kuril Islands and the Southern Kuril Islands.  The Kuril Islands sit on top of a geological composition called the Greater Kuril Ridge.

The Kurils once belonged to [[Russia]], but were under Japanese control at the time of [[World War II]].  Russia seized them from Japan after the end of the War, but sovereignty over parts of the islands remains in dispute, and Japan has refused to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia because of disputes over the Kurils and [[Sakhalin]].

The Kurils once belonged to [[Russia]], but were under Japanese control at the time of [[World War II]].  Russia seized them from Japan after the end of the War, but sovereignty over parts of the islands remains in dispute, and Japan has refused to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia because of disputes over the Kurils and [[Sakhalin]].