In Ukraine, while the Russian army is expected to aim for further capture in the eastern part, the deputy prime minister in charge of urban development under the Putin administration has announced that it will proceed with the construction of a road connecting Russia and the controlled area. The movement to promote the transformation is spreading.
In Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, soldiers continued to surrender, and the Russian Defense Ministry announced on the 18th that 694 people had surrendered from the Azovstal iron and steelworks, and since 16th this month, the total number of soldiers has reached 959 from the Ukrainian side. ..
The Ukrainian General Staff said the fighting mission at the steelworks was over, and Russian troops are believed to be in full control of Mariupol soon, aiming for further capture in the east.
Under these circumstances, according to Russia's state-run news agency, Deputy Prime Minister Husnurin, who is in charge of urban development under the Putin administration in Russia, visited Melitopol, a city in Zaporizhia, southeastern Ukraine, on the 18th.
The Russian side has unilaterally claimed to have seized Melitopol's, and Deputy Prime Minister Husnulin said, "We will build a road that connects Russia," and expressed his intention to proceed with the construction of a road that connects Russia and the territory controlled by Russia. I did.
He also said to the residents of Melitopol that "the pension and salary will be paid in the ruble this month" and insisted that the payment will be made in the Russian currency ruble instead of the Ukrainian currency Fribnya.
"The outlook for Melitopol's is to be part of Russia. We want to do our best to support the possibility of annexation," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Husnulin visited eastern Mariupol on the 8th of this month to discuss the reconstruction of the port with pro-Russian forces, and Russia is promoting the establishment of control through infrastructure development such as roads and ports. It seems that there is some aim.
Meanwhile, a senior Pentagon official said around Ukraine's second largest city, eastern Kharkiv, "Ukrainian troops continue to push Russian troops back towards the border."
Mayor Boychenko of Mariupol's also said in an interview with NHK on the 18th, "When the time comes, we will turn to counterattack. We will win and I will definitely return to Mariupol's."
The Ukrainian army has received military support from Western countries and has not broken the stance of a thorough anti-war, and the war situation is likely to continue unpredictable.