A passenger ship route has opened between Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, and Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported Wednesday. It is the first direct ship service between the two neighbouring countries since Russia began invading Ukraine in February 2022, according to the service operator. The service, offering one round trip per week, is also believed to be the only direct passenger route connecting the two countries, as direct flights are banned as part of sanctions against Russia.