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 23rd (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)

Ukraine holds informal talks with Europe, the US, and others, proposing summit-level talks

Ukraine has proposed a peace plan consisting of 10 points, including the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of territory, and has been holding talks bringing together government officials from Europe, the United States, and emerging countries since June last year in order to gain support from various countries. Ta.



On the 20th of this month, it was announced that President Sullivan, who is also a member of these talks and is in charge of national security policy at the U.S. White House, met with Ukrainian Presidential Secretary Yermak and others in the capital, Kiiv.



According to sources, on the 20th, Ukraine gathered government officials from the G7 (G7) and other emerging countries in the Global South for informal consultations.



Among them, Ukraine has proposed that it would like to hold summit-level talks in Switzerland this June.



With military aid from the West stagnant and Russia's offensive increasing, Ukraine appears to be trying to find a way to achieve peace through its own initiative, centered on the peace plan.



However, some emerging countries are insisting that Russia should be included in the talks and aim for an immediate cease-fire, and it is unclear whether things will proceed as planned by Ukraine, which wants to expand support for the peace plan and put pressure on Russia. is.

Russia's large-scale attack damages Ukraine's infrastructure, causing power outages to over 1 million homes

The Russian military has carried out large-scale attacks using missiles and drones, causing damage to power plants and other energy infrastructure facilities across Ukraine, causing power outages to at least 1 million homes across the country, and restoration efforts are underway in various locations. Russia claims the attack was in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Ukraine.



The Ukrainian Air Force announced on the 22nd that the Russian military conducted a total of 151 attacks with missiles and drones across Ukraine, of which 37 missiles and 55 drones were intercepted.



This attack reportedly cut off one power line at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors nuclear power plants, says that power continues to be supplied to the plant.



Additionally, a fire broke out at a hydroelectric power plant on the Dnipro River, causing damage. According to the National Police of Ukraine, two people were killed in the western Khmelnytsky Oblast, and three people, including a 9-year-old girl, were killed in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast, bringing the total number of deaths across the country to five.



In addition, Deputy Director-General of the President of Ukraine Kuleba revealed that at least 1 million homes across the country were affected by power outages, and restoration work is underway in various locations.



Regarding this, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the large-scale attack had been carried out targeting Ukrainian energy facilities and other targets, and added, ``We used hypersonic missiles such as the Kinzhal and 49 ``The attack was carried out twice,'' claiming that it was in retaliation for cross-border attacks carried out by Ukraine in areas such as Belgorod Oblast in western Russia.

Russian Presidential Office: ``What started as a special military operation turned into a war''

In an interview with Russian media published on the 22nd, Spokesman of the Russian Presidential Administration Peskov emphasized that the Russian military aims to take control of all four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine. ``It started as a special military operation, but now that the West has joined the Ukrainian side, it has already become a war for us,'' he said, further strengthening his stance to continue military invasion.