Russia's military invasion of Ukraine continues.

Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting in various parts of Ukraine, and many civilians have fled the country. We will update the situation in Ukraine from time to time on the 31st (Japan time), including the status of the battle and the diplomacy of the countries concerned.

(There is a 6-hour time difference between Japan and Ukraine and Moscow, Russia)

Fierce battlefield Bahumt continues to fight and defend

In Bakhmut, a fierce battlefield in eastern Ukraine, it seems that the Russian side, which continues to invade, and the Ukrainian army are continuing to fight each other. A spokesman for the Eastern Area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told local media on March 30 that Bakhmud remains the center of hostilities, and the military's chiefs of staff emphasized on social media, "The Russian side is repeating attacks, but we are repelling many attacks."

Under these circumstances, Ukrainian President Zelensky said in an interview reported by the Associated Press of the United States on the 29th, "President Putin will push forward if he shows that we are weak," and if he loses in Bakhmut, there may be pressure from both inside and outside to force a compromise with Russia. He emphasized the political importance of winning a long-running battle.

Arrest of reporter of leading US newspaper, further deepening US-Russia confrontation

An American reporter for the Wall Street Journal, a leading American newspaper, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage in Russia.

In response, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken strongly criticized the Russian side, saying that it was "deeply concerned," and the confrontation between the two countries has deepened.

Paris Olympics Russian and Belarusian athletes participate

IOC=International Olympic Committee President Bach held a press conference in Switzerland on the 30th as a concluding meeting of the IOC Executive Board held for three days.

"It is clear that it will be one year before the Games," he said, referring to the timing of deciding whether to allow athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus, who have been excluded from international competitions in many sports due to the military invasion of Ukraine, to participate in next summer's Paris Olympics. He indicated that he would make a decision one year before the opening of the Games on July 3.