Japan to ship bullet-proof vests to Ukraine

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan said Friday it will provide bullet-proof vests and other relief goods to Ukraine as Russia’s war on its neighbor has continued in its second week.

"The goods to be delivered by the Self-Defense Forces also include winter clothes, food items, and power generators," said Hirokazu Matsuno, the government’s chief Cabinet secretary.

Japan has joined its Western allies and imposed punishing sanctions on Russia along with its president, foreign minister and financial institutions.

Besides, Tokyo has provided cash assistance in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, alongside a $100 million loan.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the EU, US, and UK among others implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

Many countries have armed Ukraine to fight back Russian soldiers.

According to UN figures, 227 civilians have been killed and 525 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war. Ukrainian authorities, however, put the death toll at over 2,000.

More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN Refugee Agency.