Japanese man dies fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Broadcaster NHK identifies man as a 29-year-old former soldier who left Japan and was killed in blast in Donetsk

A Japanese national died last month fighting for Russia against Ukraine, Tokyo said Tuesday.

Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi gave no details on the man's identity, saying only that he was in his 20s.

National broadcaster NHK identified the man as a 29-year-old former soldier who left Japan in November and was killed in a blast in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk.

Hayashi said Russian authorities informed the Japanese embassy in Russia on June 5 and that diplomats confirmed the death on July 15.

He told a regular briefing that the government was not aware of other deaths of Japanese nationals fighting for Russia.

A handful of Japanese nationals are known to have volunteered to fight for Ukraine against Russia but it is unclear how many have signed up on the other side.

Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine since the invasion began more than two years ago, and Moscow has been on a global quest for more troops, in particular among South Asians.

Nepal's government said in May that 22 of its nationals had been killed fighting for Russia. Sri Lanka has said 17 of its citizens have also been killed.