[Updated from time to time] Russia invades Ukraine (Movement on the 26th)

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 26th (Japan time), such as the situation of the fighting and the diplomacy of the countries concerned.

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

Night curfew Territorial Defense Force patrols in capital Kyiv

Nighttime curfews are in place across Ukraine, with the capital Kyiv in effect from 11pm to 5am.

NHK's reporting team was allowed to accompany the territorial defense force patrol at this time, and from the night of the 24th to the early morning of the 25th, they filmed the activities in the capital late at night, which they usually do not see.

At 11:00 p.m., about 40 men with guns and radios gathered on a highway in eastern Kyiv and began patrols in groups.

One group was stopping cars one by one to check the documents of the passengers, but suddenly one car ignored the restraint and drove away.

When the members got into the car and chased him at a high speed, they stopped and listened to the driver, who may have been a so-called white taxi business, and was handed over to the police.

Also, when I heard that there was a man walking in a residential area, I rushed to him, and he was a drunk man, and I persuaded him to go home.

The main purpose of the patrol is to prevent the movement of Russian collaborators.In the past, it has handed over a suspicious person who took a picture to the police, and it is said that it has also caught a Russian soldier who failed to escape. That's it.

A 38-year-old self-employed member who participates said, "Our goal is to crack down on the activities of the enemy that are harming our city and country, and we will continue our activities until Ukraine wins." .

U.S. official strongly discourages Russia from using nuclear weapons

President Sullivan, who is in charge of security policy in the Biden administration, said in a program broadcast on ABC TV in the United States on the 25th that President Putin of Russia criticized the Western side for providing military support to Ukraine, and the use of nuclear forces. He emphasized that "it will not deter our actions" about showing a willingness to do so.

"I have been in direct and informal contact with a very high-ranking person in Russia and told him that the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine would have catastrophic consequences for Russia. We will take a decisive response," and strongly restrained.

Russian political scientist mobilizes ``beginning of the end''

Russian President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization over the invasion of Ukraine was described as "the beginning of the end" by Finnish-based Russian political scientist Margarita Zawatskaya.

In it, Mr. Zawatskaya said, ``I pretended to be a partial mobilization so that it wouldn't look like an exaggeration to the Russian people, but it was actually a full-scale mobilization.'' Although it says "partial," he pointed out that anyone could be convened depending on the legal interpretation.

She added that "ordinary Russians are not prepared to sacrifice their lives, health and well-being. Massive and cumbersome mobilization will make people more disappointed, especially in rural areas. There will be chaotic and violent riots," he said.

And if the backlash in Russia intensified, it would shake the foundations of the Putin administration and could lead to the end, and he described it as "the beginning of the end."

"President Putin arrogantly does not see Ukraine as an independent political entity. He believes that Ukraine is part of Russia, a cultural sphere, and that goal goes further," Zawatskaya said. Unfortunately, Putin will not give up even if there are more human losses on both sides.”

On the other hand, regarding President Putin's willingness to use nuclear forces and threatening the West, Zawatskaya said, "There is a possibility that we are waiting for some kind of compromise, proposal, or offer from the West." also showed.