Japanese national fighting for Russia against Ukraine dies

The national flag of Russia

A Japanese national in his 20s who had been fighting for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine died last month, a Japanese government source said Monday.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry confirmed on July 15 that the man was killed in battle on June 3, the source said, adding that the Russian side informed the Japanese Embassy in Moscow of his death on June 5.

The man was from Osaka prefecture in western Japan and used to work as a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member at a camp in the prefecture, according to a person who knows the man and lives in Russia.

The ministry declined to comment on the issue.