It has been five months in 24 days since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine began.
Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to fight in various parts of Ukraine, and many citizens are evacuating abroad.
We will keep you updated on the movements on the 24th (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, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia)
Turkish Defense Minister “Russia Denies Participation in Attack”
The Turkish Ministry of Defense released a statement by Defense Minister Akar on the 23rd, saying, "Russia has never been involved in this attack and told us that it is investigating the details." He revealed that he denied any involvement in the missile attack.
Turkey's Defense Minister Akar also had a telephone conversation with Ukraine's Defense Minister Reznikov and Kubrakov Infrastructure Minister.
Among them, "One of the missiles hit a silo that stores grain, but there is no damage to an important part of the port facility," said the Ukrainian side, saying that there was no hindrance to the work for export. It was revealed that he received the explanation.
Defense Minister Akar said, "I am worried and uncomfortable with the events immediately after the agreement on grain exports. I hope that both sides will continue to cooperate calmly and patiently in line with the agreement on the 22nd." I did.
President Zelensky "What does Russia promise ..."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explained at a meeting with a delegation of the US House of Representatives in the capital Kieu on the 23rd that the port of southern Odesa had been attacked by Russia.
He then accused Russia of finding a way to not fulfill it, no matter what it says or promises.
According to Ukrainian officials, four Russian cruise missiles "Calibre" were launched from the Black Sea, two of which were intercepted by the Ukrainian army, but the other two hit the port's infrastructure. That is.
The attack caused a fire at a pumping station in the harbor, but the fire was soon extinguished.
He explained that there was no other major damage and no information on the injured was included.
After the attack, Ukraine's infrastructure minister, Kubrakov, said on his social media that he was preparing to resume exports of agricultural products.
Missile attack on port of Odessa “ruining promise”
Ukrainian troops and officials from the southern province of Odessa announced on the 23rd that the port of Odessa facing the Black Sea was hit by a Russian missile and two shots landed, damaging the port facilities.
Russia and Ukraine, as well as intermediaries Turkey and the United Nations, safely navigate ships from three ports, including Odesa, to resume exports in response to the problem of wheat and other exports being stagnant due to the blockade by the Russian army over Odesa. On the 22nd, we had just agreed on the procedure for making it.
Regarding the attack on Odesa, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Russia broke and ruined the promise reached by the efforts of Turkey and the United Nations in less than 24 hours. It was President Putin's spit on Turkey's President Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Guteres, who made such contributions, "said a spokesman's statement.
He strongly accused Russia of taking full responsibility for the global food crisis if it fails to implement the agreement.
Russian Foreign Minister to visit Africa Aim to counter Europe and America
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is planning to visit four African countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia from the 24th, strengthening relations while appealing the export of Russian agricultural products, etc. It seems that there is an aim to do it.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on the 22nd that he would "meet the urgent task of maintaining food security, especially for developing countries," in response to an agreement to resume exports of wheat and other products from Russia. He expressed the idea of paving the way for the resumption of exports.
In an interview with the Russian state media on the 20th of this month, he said, "We have maintained good relations with African countries since the Soviet era," and will hold a summit meeting and economic forum with African countries next year. It is clear that.
Russia is expected to see state-owned nuclear companies begin construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant this month, strengthening ties with African countries through food and energy.
Five months after the military invasion The battle did not end
Russian troops continue to attack in eastern Ukraine, while in the south they are increasingly trying to establish control of some areas.
The Ukrainian army is also continuing its fighting while receiving weapons from Europe and the United States, and even five months after the military invasion, the battle is not settled.
[Is the eastern attack struggling?]
On the 3rd of this month, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had taken control of the entire province of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Continues to attack violently.
However, the American think tank "Institute for the Study of War" said in an analysis on the 20th of this month that "Russian troops have not been able to make great strides. Attacks on small towns continue to reduce their strength." It seems that the attrition warfare is continuing.
[Russian Army Morale Aim]
As the war situation stagnate, the Russian army is intensifying missile attacks on places other than the eastern part where people are crowded, whether it is to demoralize the Ukrainian side.
A shopping center in central Poltava was attacked on the 27th of last month, killing 20 people, and on the 14th of this month, 26 people, including children, were killed and more than 200 were injured in western Binnica.
The Ukrainian side accused that 70% of Russian military attacks targeted civilian facilities and only 30% were directed at military facilities.
[Aiming to make the rule of the South into a fact]
On the other hand, Russia is stepping up the move to make the rule of some areas such as the South, which it has already seized, into a fact.
The U.S. government is wary that Russia will send officials to some areas, such as Kherson and Zaporizhia, to hold a fake referendum to ask for approval or disapproval of the annexation of Russia.
[Counterattack in the southern part of
the Ukrainian army] In response to these movements, the Ukrainian army continues to counterattack the Russian army in the southern part.
The Ukrainian side regained Zmiinyi Island, a strategic base in the Black Sea, from Russian troops at the end of last month, and also severely damaged the bridge, which was the route needed to replenish Russian troops and withdraw troops in Kherson Oblast. rice field.
Weapons provided by Europe and the United States, such as the high-mobility rocket artillery system = Heimers, which has a long range and is capable of precise attacks, are said to be effective against such attacks.
President Zelensky said on the 20th, "It is necessary to increase the supply of modern weapons and provide effective air defense measures," and the focus is on how far the Ukrainian army can go on a counteroffensive with support from the West.