Russia's military invasion of Ukraine continues.

Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to fight in various parts of Ukraine, and many civilians are fleeing the country. We will update you on the situation in Ukraine on the 15th (Japan time), including the situation of the battle and the diplomacy of the countries concerned.

(There is a 7-hour time difference between Japan and Ukraine, and 6 hours with Moscow, Russia.)

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Discusses Reverse Offensive with Top Uniformed U.S. Military

The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, which has been engaged in fierce fighting with Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, spoke by phone with the head of the uniformed group of the U.S. military and stressed the urgent need of artillery shells and air defense weapons for the winter counteroffensive.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny revealed on the 13th that he had a telephone conversation with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Brown, the top uniformed member of the U.S. military, and discussed the possibility of a reverse offensive in the winter.

In this, Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny said that he recognized that the situation in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast in the eastern part of the country, which continues to fight fiercely with Russian forces, is "a difficult situation, but it is under control."

On top of that, he said that he appealed for the urgent need of artillery shells and air defense weapons.

On the other hand, the EU = European Union held a defense ministers' meeting in Belgium on the 14th to discuss future military support for Ukraine.

The EU has set a goal of providing Ukraine with 3 million artillery shells by March next year, but so far it has only been able to provide about 100,30 shells.

German Defense Minister Pistorius told reporters that the goal of 100 million missiles could not be achieved, and that "the defense industry must increase production."

Estonian Defense Minister Pefkul also emphasized the need to significantly strengthen efforts, saying, "Russia is now producing artillery shells and other shells more than ever before, and procuring them from North Korea, and Europe cannot say 'we can't procure them.'"