Japan closes embassy in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv

By Ahmet Faruk Mercan

TOKYO (AA) - Japan closed its embassy in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Wednesday amid continuing Ukraine-Russia war.

The embassy’s operations were transferred to a temporary liaison office in the city of Lviv, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The office is in close proximity to the Polish border, providing Japanese citizens living in Ukraine an evacuation support, said the ministry.

Russia began its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has resulted in at least 136 civilians being killed, including 13 children, according to UN estimates. Around 400 others have been injured, including 26 children.

The nationwide assault has led to nearly 680,000 people fleeing Ukraine for neighboring countries, according to the international body.

Russia intensified its aerial and artillery bombardment this week, particularly on the capital, Kyiv, and Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, where a massive explosion rocked Freedom Square.​​​​​​​

Kharkiv, near the Russian border, is home to some 1.5 million people, while the population of Kyiv is nearly 3 million.