The Ukrainian portal Censor.net has indicated that training of Japanese mercenaries in Japan
and their subsequent dispatch to Ukraine is being taken up.
As per the report, the Committee of Veterans of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the city of
Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, is actively recruiting volunteers for the
"Japan International Territorial Defense Legion".
Former members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and others with military training are accepted.
At the expense of the Committee, travel to the collection point, food and medical examination
in the hospital of the city of Sakata of the same prefecture is being carried out.
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why the arrival of Japanese warriors in Ukraine
is bound to worry Russia? Let's get started.
As per the report, assistance in this process is provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan,
which draws up the necessary migration documents.
Accepted volunteers are sent to a special training center in
Asahi, where they undergo the necessary additional training.
It was noted that the highest spirit and fighting qualities of Japanese warriors are
well known throughout the world and there is a strong belief that their appearance
on the fronts of the struggle against the Russian invaders will horrify those.
The infusion of Japanese personnel will mean the addition of more forces
in Ukraine's Foreign Legion which already comprises people from several countries
like the U.S, the UK and Belgium to name a few.
While the potential arrival of Japanese fighters in Ukraine can't be equated
directly with the official government stand, there is a background to this.
Japan’s response to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 was tame.
It took considerable US prodding to make Japan act.
But even then, its sanctions were largely symbolic.
In contrast, its response to the recent events in Ukraine has been decisive and strong.
Japan has revoked Russia’s status as a ‘most-favoured trading nation’,
suspended visa issuance for certain individuals with relations to Russia and froze their assets
and excluded selected Russian banks from the SWIFT bank messaging system.
Japan has also provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid.
Prime Minister Kishida held summit telephone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
on several occasions, offering food and medical supplies, as well as defensive equipment from
the Japan Self Defense Force including masks and suits to protect against chemical weapons.
Japan has also pledged to double financial support for Ukraine to 600 million dollars.
Japan has revised its own policy guidelines on transferring defense equipment
following requests from the Ukrainian government.
Viewers may note that Japan and Russia have a dispute over South Kuril Islands, comprising
Etorofu island, Kunashiri island, Shikotan island and Habomai island.
On 15 February 2022, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi reported the detection of a fleet of
24 Russian warships in the waters off Japan.
It is also to be noted that Japan has become increasingly wary of
the fact that there is ever growing cooperation between Russia and China.
It has not been easy going for Russia when it comes to the war in Ukraine
unlike what was predicted. The loss in men and materials
is very high and some experts believe that it can't be sustained very long.
While Russia would have liked to have a swift victory,
the conflict has now turned into an attritional battle.
In this situation arrival of Japanese fighters known for bravery and discipline
is something Kremlin would really be worried about.
A steady supply of western weapons and inflow of foreign fighters could slowly chip away at the
military advantages of Russia that it had at the beginning of the conflict.
It remains to be seen how President Putin and Kremlin responds to this.