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 4th (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)

Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for weapons to Western countries

On the 3rd, President Zelensky of Ukraine visited Finland, which is a member of NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization last month, for the first time since the military invasion by Russia, and met with President Niinistö.

At the joint press conference after the meeting, President Zelensky stated, "We will soon launch a counteroffensive, and I am confident that fighter jets will be provided," stressing that Japan will soon embark on a large-scale reversal offensive to retake its territory, and called on Western countries to provide weapons, including fighter jets.

"Our goal is to join NATO, and that's one of the reasons we visited," he said, calling on Finland to cooperate in joining NATO.

Meanwhile, President Niinistö said, "We have conveyed that we will continue to support Ukraine." Regarding the provision of fighter jets, he stated that it is necessary to maintain defense capabilities because it shares a border with Russia for about 1300,<> kilometers, and that "we cannot afford to let go of fighter jets," and expressed the view that it is not realistic to provide them immediately.

U.S. Department of Defense to provide air-launched rockets

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on the 3rd that it will provide new military assistance worth up to 3 million dollars, or Japan yen, to Ukraine, which continues to be invaded by Russia, worth about 405.2 billion yen. In this support, in addition to providing rockets that can be mounted on fighter jets and launched in the air for the first time, additional rockets used in howitzers and high mobility rocket artillery systems = Himars will be provided. According to the Department of Defense, since the start of the military invasion by Russia in February last year, the total amount of military assistance from the United States has reached 357.4 billion dollars, or more than 8000.<> trillion yen in Japan yen.

"The United States will continue to work with our allies and others to provide weapons and other weapons that Ukraine urgently needs on the battlefield," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Policy to support defense industry to increase production of EU shells

The EU = European Union, which continues to provide military support to Ukraine, has announced its policy of providing support of 5 million euros to the defense industry, or more than 740 billion yen in Japan yen, in order to increase the production of shells and missiles that Ukraine seeks to provide in the region.

The EU aims to provide 1 million shells and other shells in one year as military assistance to Ukraine, but since the end of the Cold War, countries have reduced investment in the defense industry, so it is an issue whether they can strengthen their production systems in a short period of time. The support will be used to subsidize initiatives such as the expansion and renewal of production facilities, the securing and stockpiling of critical parts and raw materials, and human resource development.

Kherson Oblast Russian attack kills 21 President Zelensky SNS

In Ukraine's southern Kherson region, several places in the state were attacked by Russian forces on the 3rd, and Ukrainian President Zelensky announced on social media that at least 21 people were killed and 48 injured.

President Zelensky said that railway stations, homes and supermarkets in the state were attacked, and strongly condemned the attack, saying, "We will never forgive the perpetrators, we will defeat the evil state and hold them accountable."

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities said 12 people were killed and 22 injured by Russian artillery fire in Kherson, the provincial capital recaptured by the Ukrainian side. As the Russian military attack continues, the authorities in the regional capital of Kherson have increased their vigilance by announcing that they will impose a curfew for 5 hours from 8 p.m. on the 8th of this month to 6 a.m. on the 58th.