【Updated from time to time】Russia invades Ukraine militarily (movement on the 29th)

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 29th (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)

Former Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Shows Views on the Start of "Operation Formation"

Ukraine's former deputy defense minister told NHK that the Ukrainian military has already begun a preparatory operation called "formation operation" to attack logistical support bases such as Russian weapons depots in preparation for a large-scale reversal offensive.

Alina Frolova, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine and Deputy Director of the Center for Defense Strategy, gave an interview to NHK on May 23.

Referring to the explosion on a railway line in Russian territory near the border with Ukraine earlier this month, Deputy Director Frolova said, "The Ukrainian side is trying to damage the offensive capability of the Russian army by attacking weapons and ammunition depots and supply routes." He expressed the view that Japan has already begun a preparatory operation called "formation operation" to attack the bases of logistical support on the Russian side in preparation for a large-scale reversal offensive.

"The expected equipment is almost ready, the soldiers are being trained, and the Ukrainian army is almost ready. A reversal offensive could begin at any time. However, the beginning may be a small movement that you will later think it was," he said, pointing out that the reversal offensive may not start in a clearly visible way.

"There are several options, which will depend on the battlefield and the supply situation," Frolova said, adding that "the first option is to operate in the south, where we can cut off supplies to Crimea and isolate it, which is valuable to the Ukrainian army."

However, he said, "In the south, there are few forest areas, the plains are wide, and you can see everything, so the infantry cannot move easily," and expressed the view that the advance would not be easy.

On the other hand, Deputy Director Frolova pointed out that "before the summit, there were voices saying that if Ukraine's reversal offensive does not go well, support should be reviewed or other scenarios should be considered." It was important for him to announce that Japan would continue to provide long-term assistance to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Army Sees Significant Decline in Russian Military Attack in Bakhmut

On the 28th, Ukrainian media quoted a spokesman for a Ukrainian military unit engaged in fighting in the eastern part of the country as saying that the attacks of Russian troops in the fierce battle zone of Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk Oblast have decreased significantly.

Although shelling by Russian troops has been one after another, there has been only one clash between units since the 27th.

Drones and missile attacks on Kyiv and others are repeated

In Kyiv, the capital located in the northern part of Ukraine, intensive attacks by drones and missiles of the Russian army were repeated, and there was a large-scale attack by drones in the early morning of the 28th. The Ukrainian Air Force emphasizes its achievements by intercepting 54 of the 52 planes that flew in.

On the 28th, President Zelensky of Ukraine praised the air defense units that defended the capital, saying, "Every time we shoot down an enemy drone or missile, lives are saved.

Explosion of bridge connecting Crimea Involvement of the Ukrainian government de facto admits

The head of the Ukrainian Security Service Malyuk has effectively acknowledged the Ukrainian government's involvement in the explosion that occurred last October on the bridge between Russia and Crimea in southern Ukraine.

In an interview with Ukrainian journalists, Malyuk said: "As is common sense in war, it is necessary for us to cut off the enemy's important transport routes, and appropriate measures have been taken."

This bridge connects the southern part of Russia with the Crimea, which was unilaterally annexed by Russia nine years ago, and has a total length of 10 kilometers. It is a strategically important infrastructure for Russia and has been a symbol of Russia's domination of Crimea.

In the explosion in October last year, part of the bridge collapsed, and the Russian side retaliated by claiming it was sabotage by Ukraine, but the Ukrainian side has not admitted its involvement until now.

Malyuk also acknowledged the involvement of the Ukrainian Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy in the drone attack on the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet last October, saying it was carried out in cooperation.

Hundreds of German civil servants, including diplomats stationed in Russia, to be evacuated German leading newspaper

The Süddeutsche Zeitung, a leading German newspaper, reported on the 27th that hundreds of German civil servants, including diplomats stationed in Russia and employees of cultural exchange organizations, have been deported at the request of the Russian side.

The German Foreign Ministry condemned this as "a unilateral, unjust and incomprehensible measure."