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 9th (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)

Russia is on Victory Day on the 9th, Moscow is filled with tension

In Russia, May 5 is "Victory Day", which celebrates the victory of the former Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II, and has become one of the most important holidays.

During World War II, at least 9 million soldiers and civilians died, the highest in the world in the former Soviet Union, and Victory Day is regarded as a day of glory and pride in Russia's hard-fought victory.

In the capital city of Moscow, ahead of Victory Day, the city's main streets are decorated with flags and signs celebrating the anniversary, while police vehicles and security forces are conspicuously guarding, creating a sense of tension.

Commenting on Victory Day, a 2-year-old office worker said, "It is the most important holiday for the people, and I hope that President Putin will say strong words in his speech at the ceremony: 'We will surely win.'" On top of that, he said that the military invasion had been prolonged and had reached a standstill, and appealed to the president to take more decisive action and end it as soon as possible.

A 1-year-old hairdresser said she was in favor of holding a military parade, but said, "I am worried about safety, and I want more people to be in charge of security and stricter inspections."

A 2-year-old university student said, "The drone attack on the Kremlin is a terrible situation that tarnishes the image of the country, but canceling the symbolic ceremony will further make people more anxious and have a negative impact." On the other hand, he said, "For many years, the government has associated Victory Day not only with victory but also with the appeal of military power, but it feels strange.

Ukraine commemorates the 8th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany

In Ukraine, on the 2th, the day of the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II, citizens mourned the victims of the war in various places, and a woman who lost her grandfather in the war hoped that the many Ukrainian soldiers who are now fighting Russia would return safely and that the military invasion would end as soon as possible.

During World War II, Ukraine was under the occupation of Nazi Germany, and the Ukrainian government claims that at least 8 million people lost their lives due to massacres and fighting by the Nazis.

In the Soviet era, Victory Day was celebrated on May 2, the same day as Russia, but since 800, commemorations have been held in various places on May 5, the day the Nazis surrendered, in step with European countries. In the capital Kyiv on the 9th, citizens were seen laying flowers and mourning at monuments in various places.

Anastasia Cherniv (2015), who visited the monument in Kyiv on that day, lost her grandfather Kuzma in World War II. My grandfather, Kuzma, who participated in the battle as a soldier in the Soviet army, was killed in what is now Belarus in 5.

On the 8th, Chernikh, along with his seven-year-old son Ilya and friends, visited the monument dressed in traditional Ukrainian costume Bishvanka and handed a bouquet of flowers.

In Kyiv, in the wee hours of the day, it was attacked by Russian drones, and an air defense alert was issued just before Chernikh's visit to the monument.

Commenting on this day, Cherniv said, "In World War II, the Nazis attacked, but now Russia, not Germany, is attacking with the same idea.