Russia's military invasion of Ukraine continues.
Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to fight in various parts of Ukraine, and many civilians have fled the country.
We will keep you updated on developments regarding the situation in Ukraine on the 13th (Japan time), including the situation of the battle and the diplomacy of the countries involved.
(There is a 7 hour time difference between Japan and Ukraine, and a 6 hour time difference with Moscow, Russia)
US announces new military aid worth approximately 44 billion yen
On the 12th, President Sullivan, who is in charge of national security policy at the White House, said at a press conference that Ukraine would receive $300 million in shells and other items, equivalent to approximately 44 billion yen in Japanese yen, due to Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine. It has been announced that new military assistance will be provided.
Due to conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties in Congress, the budget for U.S. aid to Ukraine has dried up, but the U.S. will use funds generated through cost reductions from the weapons procurement budget that has been decided so far.
It is the first time in two and a half months since the end of last year that the United States decided to provide new military aid to Ukraine.
Russia “new control over villages in eastern Ukraine”
On the 12th, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had taken control of a village southwest of Audiivka in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, which it had taken control of last month.
Russian media reported that one of President Putin's close aides, First Deputy Director of the Presidential Administration Kiriyenko, visited Audiiivka and appealed for the expansion of the territory under his control.
Meanwhile, on the 12th, an organization of Russian volunteer soldiers opposed to the Putin regime and fighting on the side of Ukraine announced on social media that they had crossed the border from the Ukrainian side into Belgorod and Kursk oblasts in western Russia and launched attacks. He made it clear that he had taken control of some villages.
In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that there was an attempted cross-border attack from the Ukrainian side, but it was repulsed by destroying tanks and other equipment.
Russian media “Refinery catches fire due to drone attack”
According to Russian media, there were drone attacks across Russia on the morning of the 12th, and in the western Nizhny Novgorod region, a refinery belonging to Russia's second largest oil company, Lukoil, was attacked and a fire broke out.
Reuters reported that half of the facility's production was halted due to this attack, and that ``the main refinery suffered severe damage,'' and it appears that the Ukrainian side is also continuing its counterattack.