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 on the 16th (Japan time), including the status of the battle and diplomacy of the countries concerned.

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

Russian Defense Ministry claims it took the suburbs of the battleground Bahmut

In an announcement on the 15th, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units of the private military company Wagener had taken two areas south and north of the city, and that the remaining Ukrainian troops in the city were retreating.

A spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Command told local media on the 2th that "this is the bloodiest battle in decades," and that the Russian side has continued to carry out fierce attacks, including shelling Bahmut and its surroundings in 15 hours.

"We are committed to reducing the enemy's fighting capacity and depriving them of their strength and morale," he said, emphasizing the idea of stopping the Russian invasion in Bahmut.

Christian Ukrainian Orthodox Church Prays the Day Before Easter

In the Christian Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the 16th of this month.

In the capital Kyiv, families were seen praying the day before Easter.

Victoria Olekshenko, 50, prepared a traditional cake with her 3-year-old daughter after her husband, Ivan, who serves in the army, returned from the battlefield after taking a three-day holiday for Easter.

Victoria was delighted, saying, "I miss my eldest son in the military, but I'm happy to celebrate this big day for my husband and family."

Olekshenko and his wife visited the church with their 15-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.

Every year, Easter ceremonies are held in the church from midnight on Saturday to the next morning, but many people visited the church on the evening before Easter because of the ongoing curfew due to the military invasion.

Olekshenko and others also visited the church with prepared cakes and brightly colored eggs as a symbol of life, had them purified with holy water, lit candles, and offered prayers.

Her husband, Ivan, said, "We are fortunate to be able to celebrate Easter with our families, even though not all soldiers can celebrate this way, and I pray that our comrades who are not here are safe in order to protect our homeland."