Russia claims to have hit air bases in the west of the country

Japan’s prime minister on Sunday denounced Russian threats to use its nuclear weapons, as Japan commemorates the 78^e anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States. About 140,000 people died in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and another 74,000 in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki three days later at the end of World War II.

“The devastation caused by nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki can never be repeated”Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a ceremony in Hiroshima. “Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings during the war, will continue its efforts for a nuclear-free world”argued Mr. Kishida, whose family is originally from Hiroshima.

“The path to this goal is becoming increasingly difficult due to growing divisions within the international community over nuclear disarmament and the nuclear threat from Russia”he lamented. “Given this situation, it is all the more important to restore international momentum to the achievement of a nuclear-free world”he pointed out.

For the second year in a row, Hiroshima did not invite Russia or Belarus to attend the ceremony due to the war in Ukraine.

His comments echo those of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, published in a statement on the occasion of these commemorations, where he regrets that “some countries are recklessly waving the nuclear saber again, threatening to use these tools of annihilation”. “In the face of these threats, the global community must speak with one voice. Any use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable.”Mr. Guterres added.

During the ceremony, thousands of people, including survivors, relatives, loved ones and foreign dignitaries from 111 countries (a record), prayed for the victims killed or injured in the bombing and called for peace in the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on June 16 that nuclear warheads had indeed been delivered to Belarus, its ally and neighbor.