Moscow, Dec. 17 (Jiji Press)–Russia’s military said Monday it has built four buildings to house troops and their families on northwestern Pacific islands held by Moscow and claimed by Tokyo.

A total of 188 households will move into the new buildings, two each on Etorofu and Kunashiri, next week, the Eastern Military District said.

The move is apparently part of Russia’s efforts to militarize the four disputed islands, including Etorofu and Kunashiri.

Some 3,500 Russian troops are believed to be deployed on the four islands, known as Northern Territories in Japan. The number may have increased.

Two more similar residential buildings will be built on Etorofu and one more on Kunashiri next year, the military district said.

It added that there are plans to build or renovate over 200 military, residential, school and other buildings on Etorofu and Kunashiri.

The four islands were seized from Japan by Soviet troops in the closing days of World War II.