Russia's military invasion of Ukraine continues.



Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to fight in various parts of Ukraine, and many civilians are evacuating abroad.

We will keep you updated on the movements on the 12th (Japan time) regarding the situation in Ukraine, such as the situation of the battle and the diplomacy of the countries concerned.



(There is a time difference of 6 hours between Japan and Ukraine and Moscow in Russia)

Russia Suspension of pipeline to send natural gas to Germany

The main pipeline "Nord Stream" that sends natural gas from Russia to Germany has been suspended from the 11th due to regular inspections.



There is growing concern that supply will not resume after inspections as the Russian side shakes Germany, which imposes economic sanctions.



Nord Stream is currently Europe's largest natural gas pipeline, connecting Russia through the bottom of the Baltic Sea to Germany.



Russia's state-owned gas company Gazprom, which operates this pipeline, has stopped supplying natural gas from Russia to Germany on the 11th due to regular inspections.



The inspection is scheduled for the 21st of this month.



Around this pipeline, supply from Russia was cut by about 60% last month.



The German government is in an unusual situation asking people and businesses to save gas, saying it cannot stockpile enough for the winter when heating demand increases.



As a result, there is growing concern in Germany that supply will not be resumed after the inspection, as the Russian side will shake Germany, which imposes economic sanctions, on this regular inspection as well.



A German government official said at a regular press conference on the 11th that the pipeline inspection was "restarted, but it is unpredictable."



Germany is pushing ahead with energy de-Russia, but Russia's share of natural gas imports still accounts for 35% as of April.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Erdogan talk on the phone

The Russian Presidential Administration announced on the 11th that Putin had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Erdogan.



According to it, the two leaders have discussed the maritime transport of Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea, which Turkey is coordinating with the United Nations as an intermediary.



At the port facing the Black Sea in the southern part of Ukraine, an agricultural powerhouse, grain exports continue to be impossible due to the blockage by the Russian army.



In response, the Turkish Presidential Office also emphasized that President Erdogan "is time to take action toward a plan to export grain in the Black Sea."



Meanwhile, the Presidential Administration of Russia said in this telephone meeting that "the two leaders had discussed issues ahead of the summit meeting in the near future," and said that adjustments to the summit meeting are in progress, President Putin. However, it will also be interesting to see if he will meet directly with President Erdogan, who acts as an intermediary for the situation in Ukraine.



President Erdogan said that he had talked with Ukraine's President Zelensky over the phone over grain exports, and reiterated his willingness to be actively involved in the ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Russian troops attack eastern Kharkiv Oblast 6 dead

Russian troops continue to attack in eastern Kharkiv, and the local governor posted on the 11th that "Russian troops attacked shopping malls and apartment buildings in Kharkiv," according to local prosecutors. So far, six people have died and civilian casualties are widespread.



In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 11th that it launched a cruise missile "Calibre" in eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, destroying the high-mobility rocket artillery system = Hymers, etc. that the United States provided to the Ukrainian army.



Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defense analyzed on the 11th that Russian troops have been complaining to soldiers about their physical and mental burdens due to lack of plans for rest.