While the Russian military is stepping up its attacks with the aim of seizing control of eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian side emphasizes that it has withstood the winter invasion, and in March, it has announced a stance of strengthening its counteroffensive to recapture its territory.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kuleba tweeted on the 1st: "On March 1st, Putin suffered another crushing defeat. Despite the cold, the darkness and the missile attacks, Ukraine endured and defeated the horrors of winter. Support Ukraine." Thank you to our partners who have supported us." He emphasized that he survived the attacks on power facilities in various places by the Russian army during the winter, and expressed his gratitude for the support of each country.
Defense Minister Reznikov also posted, "Russia tried to freeze us and throw us into the dark, but we survived. Today is the beginning of spring. Ukraine wins." I was.
In an interview published on March 26, Deputy Director General of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Skivitsky said that the Ukrainian military plans to embark on a large-scale counteroffensive this spring.
"One of our military strategic goals is to drive a wedge on the Southern Front, that is, between Crimea and mainland Russia." The goal is to divide Crimea from mainland Russia.
On the other hand, a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense said on the 1st that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on a Crimean facility, but it thwarted it.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 28th of the previous day that it had stopped an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia, which is close to Ukraine, and may have strengthened its vigilance.
The Russian military is intensifying its offensive, aiming to seize control of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, but the Ukrainian side is poised to launch a large-scale counteroffensive from this month onwards in order to recapture its territory, including Crimea.
Citizens of Bucha near Kyiv Living with emotional scars and fears
On the 1st, when the NHK reporting team entered Bucha near Kyiv, which had been temporarily occupied by the Russian army and many civilians had died, reconstruction of destroyed houses was progressing little by little.
Around Jablonska Street, where many bodies of massacred citizens were found and came to be called "Death Street", residents were cleaning up the scattered rubble and contractors were proceeding with construction to rebuild houses. rice field.
Oksana Zamogilina, 56, who lives near Jablonskaya Street, said the windows and exterior walls of her house were destroyed by rocket attacks from the Russian army.
After that, the windows were replaced and the outer walls were repaired, but the interior was still littered with debris, and the wallpaper was left untouched.
Zamogilina cannot forget the sight of the city being occupied by the Russian army, and lives with emotional scars and fear.
“I still cannot believe what happened in Bucha,” she said. .