Russia “preparing very seriously for the offensive”, according to Kyiv. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said he expects the Russian army on Wednesday (February 1st) “try something around February 24”a year after the start of the Kremlin-ordered invasion of the country. “They can attempt a two-axis offensive”in the east and south of the country, he advanced on BFM TV. “We also need to be ready as soon as possible, and that’s why we need weapons, to contain the enemy”, he insisted. Follow our live.
Two dead in Kramatorsk. Rescuers were active Thursday at dawn to try to find survivors in the rubble of an apartment building in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, destroyed by a Russian strike. According to the governor of the Donetsk region, the attack killed two people and injured 21, eight of whom were hospitalized and two are in critical condition.
Patriotic ceremonies in Russia. Russia is celebrating 80 years since the Soviet victory at Stalingrad, a battle that marked a turning point during the Second World War. This day takes on increased symbolic importance as Moscow intensifies its actions after the recent capture of Soledar, a town in eastern Ukraine, a first success for Russian forces for many months.
Anti-corruption operation in Ukraine. While kyiv is due to host a summit with the European Union on Friday, the Ukrainian authorities launched a vast anti-corruption operation on Wednesday. These raids come a week after the dismissal of a series of senior officials in the wake of a case concerning army supplies.
