Russia's military aggression against Ukraine continues.
Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues across Ukraine, forcing thousands of civilians to flee the country.
We will keep you updated on the developments regarding the situation in Ukraine on the 13th (Japan time), such as the situation of the fighting and the diplomacy of the countries concerned.
First export of wheat from Ukraine after the agreement between Turkey and the United Nations
A 3,050-ton cargo ship carrying 3,050 tons of wheat has left a port in southern Ukraine on the Black Sea for northwestern Turkey, Turkey's defense ministry said on Thursday.
After Russia and Ukraine agreed to export agricultural products through the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations, most of the agricultural products exported were corn used for livestock feed, but this time wheat will be exported for the first time.
With this, a total of 14 ships have left Ukraine by the 12th.
In addition, two cargo ships without cargo have also been inspected for concealed weapons, etc., and have entered Ukrainian ports. It's getting a lot of attention.
On the other hand, EU = European Union President Michel announced on Twitter on the 12th that "WFP = World Food Program ship will soon load grain and head to Ethiopia from the port of Odesa", and preparations for export to Africa are also underway. and
Zaporizhia nuclear power plant continues to be attacked even after Russian forces seize control
At the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest in southeastern Ukraine, attacks have continued even after the Russian military took control.
The bombardment that began on the 5th of this month damaged power lines, and after that, the Ukrainian nuclear power company Energoatom announced on the 11th that the nuclear power plant had been attacked again.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian officials in the Zaporizhia region also claimed the attack, with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of attacking the other.
As a background to the continuing attacks, Energoatom's chief Kotin said on the 9th that the Russian military would destroy power lines, cutting off the current Ukrainian power grid and supplying power to southern Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed. I showed the view that it was planned.
In addition, the American think tank "War Research Institute" said, "The Russian military uses nuclear power plants as a 'nuclear shield.' I'm trying," he said.
A series of attacks that are believed to have used the nuclear power plant as a shield have occurred in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant, and the governor of the eastern Dnipropetrovsk province announced on the 10th that the residential areas of two towns on the opposite bank of the river flowing near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant were hit by rockets fired by the Russian military. attacked, killing 13 civilians.
According to the IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has 6 nuclear reactors with an output of 6 million kilowatts, which is the largest in Europe and can cover about 20% of Ukraine's domestic electricity. is.
Also, as of the 10th, two out of six reactors are in operation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
IAEA Director General Grossi 'Serious problem for nuclear safety'
IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Grossi said in a statement that he had been contacted by the Ukrainian side about the damage caused by the shelling that occurred on the 11th.
According to that, the shelling occurred in the afternoon of the 11th, and damage such as damage to the equipment used for monitoring radiation at the fire station in the nuclear power plant facility was reported.
Based on the information provided, the IAEA assesses that critical systems related to the safety of the nuclear power plant have not been affected.
However, Director-General Grossi once again called for a cessation of military action against the nuclear power plant, stating that "a series of shelling is a serious problem for the safety of the nuclear power plant," and emphasized the importance of visiting the site by a team of IAEA experts.
Call center in Ukraine Calls from Russians one after another
A call center has been set up in Ukraine's Kyiv province to respond to inquiries from parents of Russian soldiers who have gone missing after joining the battle in Ukraine.
The call center has been operated by the Ukrainian government since late February, when the military invasion began.
It is said that the call center, which is set up in one room of the building, has been receiving calls one after another from Russians who are worried about their sons, husbands, and lovers who have lost contact.
At the center, a tearful woman said, "He had nothing to do with the military, he was just an athlete. Please tell me which unit he was assigned to." He said he was on his way. He said he was given medicine like anesthesia so that he wouldn't feel fear."
In response to these inquiries, the operator checked against a database of information on more than 130,000 cases, and has answered about 26,000 cases so far, such as "dead" or "captive". That's it.
One of the purposes of setting up the call center is to spread awareness within Russia that what is happening in Ukraine is not a special military operation claimed by the Putin administration, but a "war" in which many soldiers and civilians have died. That's what it means.
Currently, about 10 people are working at home to ensure safety, and one of the female operators said, "A Russian father who is looking for his son said, 'I'm sorry about what Russia is doing. I once apologized while crying.I hope that through the call center, more people in Russia will realize that what the Russian government is saying is a lie."
Kyiv commercial facilities and restaurants reopen
It has been almost half a year since the start of the invasion by the Russian army in Ukraine, and despite the fact that martial law is still in place, the capital city of Kyiv has resumed operations, with commercial facilities and restaurants in the center resuming operations, and people enjoying shopping. It's getting back to how it was before.
However, even now, air defense warnings are issued almost every day, sandbags are piled up in some places, and barricades as tall as people are built. It is
On June 18 and 19, Ukrainian NGOs conducted a telephone poll of people over the age of 18, excluding the Crimea Peninsula annexed by Russia and areas it claimed to be under its control. got the answer.
As a result, about 20% of the total have left their homes and continue to live as refugees.
In addition, unemployment is one of the issues, with one in three people who lost their jobs after the invasion still answering that they are "not working."
Furthermore, only 36% of the respondents answered that they did not feel fatigue, while only 44% answered that they ``slept well.'' It is clear that the prolonged fighting has had a psychological impact. has become
NHK interviewed residents in Kyiv about the current situation six months after the invasion.
Among them, a man who has evacuated his wife and two-year-old son to a rural area and is looking for a job while living alone said, "I think everyone is tired. I just want to win and punish the invaders. It's stronger," he said.
Also, a woman in her 20s said, "Sometimes the attacks get stronger, so I'm always nervous. Experiencing war is hard, and I live with stress." .
Another man living in Kyiv said, "The war is not over yet. People with courage are losing their lives and fighting continues, so I have to do my best."