Russian Embassy in Japan . File photoTOKYO, Apr 20A bus with Russian diplomats and employees of the trade mission, whose expulsion from the country was announced by Japan, left the territory of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tokyo under the march «Farewell to the Slav», a RIA Novosti correspondent reports. Several dozen employees of the embassy and trade mission gathered to see the departing off. Numerous Japanese media gathered on the street in front of the embassy building. Russian Ambassador Mikhail Galuzin thanked those departing for their selfless and effective work and called Japan's decision «arbitrary» and «unfriendly.» authorities. But you are leaving Japan with your head held high, with a sense of well-done duty,» Galuzin said in a short farewell speech. The head of the diplomatic mission also called the decision of the Japanese authorities «an extremely counterproductive step for the Russian-Japanese dialogue.» from where the Russians will fly to their homeland. Japan announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats on April 8. As Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at the time, the Japanese government made a thorough assessment of the situation before making this decision, and this measure is a consequence of the current situation in Ukraine. » />Russian diplomats will fly out of Japan on Wednesday afternoon, media reportsRussia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» bloody crimes against civilians» of Donbass. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and, on March 25, they completed the main tasks of the first stage — they significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
