With Russian troops “wiping out towns and villages” in the Donetsk region – as Pavlo Kyrylenko, the regional governor warned this Monday – Ukrainians are increasingly preparing for the major offensive they believe Russia will inevitably launch in these days, if the first anniversary of the invasion, February 24, is approaching. A warning echoed by Defense Minister himself, Oleksiy Reznikov, on Sunday night, which appears to be postponing his replacement by the head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov. The news was taken for granted, but this Monday the leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party came to announce that the changes, justified by more suspicions of corruption, will not take place this week.
“We are waiting for the appointment of the leaders of the Ministry of Interior and Security Services of Ukraine. There will be no personnel changes in the defense sector this week,” deputy David Arakhamia said on Telegram. Another deputy, Mariana Bezugla, said on Facebook that the adjustment was “suspended until the end of the week” while the government “assessed the risks of this adjustment”, taking into account the increasing pressure from the Russian military in the east of the country.
According to Arakhamia, Reznikov should exchange the portfolio of Defense for that of Strategic Industries. But he said he was unaware of the change and assured he would decline another position. The latter took over the Ministry of Defense in November 2021 and helped secure Western military support to strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces.
His ministry was recently embroiled in corruption scandals that led to Deputy Defense Minister Viacheslav Shapovalov, in charge of logistical support to the armed forces, resigning at the end of January after being accused of signing overpriced food supply contracts for the troops.
As Zelensky continues his battle against the old scourge of corruption in the Ukrainian government (having already ousted several senior officials in recent weeks), Russian troops on the ground are stepping up the tone of the attacks. The battle for the region [do Donbass, que junta Donetsk e Lugansk] are warming up. The Russians are launching new units into battle,” Governor Kyrylenko assured. Serhiy Haidai, governor of Lugansk, also warned that the Russians are “sparing ammunition for a large-scale offensive.” Centered around the city of Bakhmut and the neighboring towns of Soledar and Vuhledar.
On Sunday, Reznikov said in a press conference that while they don’t have all the resources to launch the offensive, the Russians could still advance, in a gesture more symbolic than strategic, to coincide with the first anniversary of the invasion.
Since this Monday, the Ukrainian army has been undergoing training to use the Leopard tanks that European allies have already promised to send – with the Germans confirming the dispatch of 14. The still defense minister announced that Ukraine has long received missiles – ranged weapons, but it will not use them against Russian territory, only against Russian units on Ukrainian territory. “I’m sure we’re going to win this war,” Reznikov assured, again calling on the allies to supply fighter jets to Ukraine if they want to save lives.
Much of the Russian advance on Bakhmut was led by Wagner Group mercenaries. In a video, the leader of the group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, challenges Zelensky to a dogfight. He appears on the footage in the cockpit of a Su-24 fighter-bomber and guarantees: “Tomorrow [hoje] I’m flying a MiG-29. If you want, we’ll meet in heaven. If you win, you get to keep Artyomovsk [Bakhmut]. If not, we will continue to the Dnieper River.”
Expected in Brussels on Thursday to take part in a special European Council and speak before the European Parliament, Zelensky – who has not yet confirmed his presence – has tabled several bills in Parliament to repeal martial law decrees and general mobilization in the country. The bills propose extending martial law and the general mobilization deadline for another three months, starting February 2. Ukraine Pravda.
According to the documents, the laws will go into effect shortly after they are passed.
Meanwhile, Norway, one of the world’s largest oil producers, has announced that it will donate NOK 75 billion (€6,800 million) to Ukraine over the next five years. The financial package, which is yet to be approved by parliament, was announced by Prime Minister Jonas Ghar Store, allowing Norway to gain the status of one of the world’s largest donors to Ukraine.
Source: DN
