ˈeɪnuː hɐvbɪn nˈoʊn tʊ ɪnhˈæbɪt ðə pɹˈɛzənt sˈaɪt ʌv kjˈʊɹɹɪlsk sˈɪns ðə sˈɛkənd mɪlˈɛniəm bˌiːsˌiːˈiː, wɪð ðɛɹ sˈɛɾəlmənt nˈoʊn æz ʃˈɑːnə, ænd ˌʌndɚ ɹˈʌʃən ɹˈuːl æz sɪˈɑːnə.
Ainu have been known to inhabit the present site of Kurilsk since the 2nd millennium BCE, with their settlement known as Shana, and under Russian rule as Syana ().