Japan's 1st Volunteer Fighter Killed in Ukraine

A Japanese volunteer fighter was killed in eastern Ukraine in a battle against the Russian military, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on Friday.

The man, who was in his 20s, is believed to be the first Japanese fatality in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

A source from the Ukrainian military revealed that the Japanese man belonged to a unit engaged in a counteroffensive operation on the eastern front in Ukraine and died when the unit was attacked.

The Ukrainian military contacted his family and started preparations to send his body to Japan.

Matsuno indicated that information relating to the man's death was confirmed on Thursday in Ukraine and the Japanese Embassy in Kyiv is contacting his family and providing support.

Accordingly, the Japanese government recommends its nationals not travel to Ukraine and those already there leave the country.

Since the beginning of the Russian military operations in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for people around the world to join an international volunteer army for his country.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba pointed out that around 20,000 people had applied for the army as of early March.