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 22nd (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)
Tank maintenance base provided to Ukraine to be installed in Poland
German Defense Minister Pistorius told reporters at a U.S. military base in western Germany on March 21 that a base in neighboring Poland will be established to maintain and repair the Leopard 2, a German-made main battle tank that European countries are donating to Ukraine.
The three countries of Germany, Ukraine, and Poland agreed on the occasion of a meeting held on May 21 to discuss military assistance to Ukraine, and Defense Minister Pistorius predicted that the base would be operational by the end of May.
He also explained that the cost will be borne by countries that support Ukraine, and stated that "the demand for maintenance will increase" with Ukraine's reversal offensive in mind.
European countries that own Leopard 3 have announced their provision one after another, and among them, Leopard 5 from Germany, Poland and other countries has already been delivered.
Russia intensifies attack on Bakhmut
In Bakhmut, the site of fierce battles in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, Russia's aggression is becoming more intense, as it continues to invade for seization.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on the 21st that storm troops, supported by airborne troops, continued to fight on the west side of the city.
The Russians have seized control of the east side of the river that runs north-south through the city of Bakhmut and are pursuing further troops, and a representative of the private military company Wagener claims to have seized more than 4% of the city on April 11.
In response, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Mallar emphasized on SNS on the 80st that the Russian side was advancing while destroying buildings in Bakhmut, and that the situation was tense, but that some of them were also counterattacking.
On the other hand, Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian presidential office, reacted to reporters on the 21st when NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Stoltenberg expressed his support for Ukraine's future NATO membership, saying, "It is clear that they are trying to swallow Ukraine and draw it into the alliance."
"The president has been talking about this potential threat long before he launched the special military operation, and we see Russia as an enemy and we are dealing with an aggressive organization that violates national security," he said.