Ukraine-Russia war – latest news: Putin has massed 500,000 troops for a new major offensive

Ukrainian Protection Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated in his latest statements that Vladimir Putin is probably going getting ready a brand new main offensive and should strike Ukraine on the primary anniversary of the battle on February 24.

In response to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia has mobilized practically 500,000 troopers for the assault.

Mr. Reznikov stated Russia had a a lot bigger variety of new troops than simply the formally introduced 300,000 troops from the primary wave of mobilization in September.

“They formally introduced 300,000 troops, however once we see the troops on the border, in accordance with our estimates, the quantity is far greater,” he informed the French BFM community.

The minister added that Moscow may “attempt one thing” to mark the primary 12 months of the invasion on February 24, marking a grim new chapter within the ongoing battle.

Nevertheless, he added that Ukrainian commanders and forces would transfer to “stabilize the entrance and put together for a counterattack” forward of the anticipated Russian advance.

Mr. Reznikov stated he “believes that 2023 might be the 12 months of navy victory,” and that Ukrainian forces “can not lose the initiative” they’ve gained in latest months.

A former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group who fled to Norway apologizes for combating in Ukraine.

“Many think about me a scoundrel, a prison, a assassin,” stated 26-year-old Andrei Medvedev. He stated, “To start with, over and over, I wish to apologize, and although I do not know the way it will likely be obtained, I wish to say I am sorry.”

“I wish to make it clear that I am not that individual. Sure, I served on Wagner. There are some moments (in my story) that individuals do not like, and I’ve completely joined them, however Nobody is born clever.”

He crossed the Russian-Norwegian border final month after witnessing the killing and abuse of Russian prisoners taken to Ukraine to struggle for Wagner.

Medvedev stated he fled throughout the Arctic border, climbed by means of a barbed-wire fence and escaped border patrol with canines, and heard guards hearth pictures as he ran by means of a forest and over the frozen river that separates the 2 international locations.

Wagner, a proxy group waging battle on Russia’s behalf, is locked in a bloody battle of attrition in Ukraine’s japanese Donetsk area.

A Russian arms supplier, his son, a gaggle of entrance firms throughout Asia, Europe and the Center east Officers introduced yesterday that their management had turn into the newest goal of US sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russian arms supplier Igor Zymenkov, his son, and corporations linked to the “Zymenkov Community” in Singapore, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Israel, amongst others, have been recognized by Treasury division Workplace of International Belongings Management Monetary Sanctions.

Almost two dozen individuals and organizations linked to a sanctions evasion community supporting Russia’s military-industrial complicated have been named in a press launch issued on Wednesday.

Safety companies searched the house of one among Ukraine’s most distinguished billionaires yesterday, allying themselves with a determine as soon as seen as a patron of Volodymyr Zelensky in what authorities described as a wartime anti-corruption purge.

The motion, days forward of a summit with the European Union, seems to replicate Kyiv’s willpower to show it might probably dealer billions of {dollars} in Western assist and shed a fame as one of many world’s most corrupt international locations.

Footage posted on social media appeared to point out enterprise tycoon Ihor Kolomosky carrying a tracksuit and being seen within the presence of a safety officer of the State Safety Division at his residence. Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the authenticity of the images.

In a press release that didn’t point out Kolomoiskiy’s title, the SBU launched the identical images, however the individual’s face is blurred.

The SBU stated it had uncovered the embezzlement of greater than $1 billion at Ukraine’s largest oil firm, Ukranafta, and its largest refinery, Ukratnafta. Kolumowski, who has lengthy denied any wrongdoing, beforehand owned stakes in each firms, which Zelensky ordered to be seized by the state in November underneath martial regulation.

Kolomosky couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.

The Kremlin stated long-range missiles from america would escalate the battle however not change its trajectory.

“The particular navy operation will proceed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, utilizing the Russian time period for an invasion.

It’s believed that Russia and Ukraine are getting ready their forces for brand new assaults, and Ukrainian Protection Minister Oleksiy Reznikov warned {that a} Russian push might start as quickly as February 24.

“We preserve telling our companions that now we have to be prepared for this, as shortly as potential. Reznikov informed French BFM TV.

Germany’s protection minister, Boris Pistorius, stated the nation wanted to shortly order new Leopard tanks to switch these destined for Ukraine.

He added that he didn’t care the place the cash to switch the Leopard tanks got here from.

Pistorius stated on a go to to a tank battalion within the western city of Augustdorf that was chosen to produce 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.

“The place will the cash come from? Let me put it casually as follows: Frankly, I do not care. It’s crucial that we get them (tanks) in shortly,” Pistorius added.

Volodymyr Zelensky stated the scenario on the entrance strains in japanese Ukraine was “getting harder” in a somber evaluation in his in a single day speech.

“There’s a sure improve within the offensive operations of the occupiers on the entrance – within the east of our nation. The scenario is changing into increasingly severe,” he stated.

Zelensky added: “Now we have been steadily going by means of all this time, from February to February. The enemy is now attempting to get not less than one thing to point out on the anniversary of the invasion that Russia allegedly has some possibilities.

In such circumstances, all of us should be significantly united, particularly targeted on the nationwide curiosity, and because of this, we have to be significantly versatile. I am assured we’ll keep that means,” he stated.

Britain’s exit from the European Union The UK was allowed to “do issues otherwise” when it got here to offering weapons Ukraine In its battle towards the invading Russian forces, the previous PM Boris Johnson He stated.

With out Brexit, he stated, supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine with anti-tank missiles wouldn’t have taken place.

Johnson made the remarks following a speech he gave on the Atlantic Council in Washington as we speak.

Learn the total story right here:

The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stated offering fighter jets was “not a direct resolution” for Ukraine within the battle towards Russia due to the time it took to coach Kyiv pilots.

Oliver Dowden was requested what he stated about former Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging the UK authorities to decide to supplying fighter jets to Ukraine.

The Cupboard minister informed ITV’s Peston programme: “I actually suppose we should be agency in supporting our Ukrainian allies.

“Now, I feel it is a little bit untimely to begin speaking about planes and every thing else, however in fact we’re not ruling something off the desk.

“There are coaching occasions and such related to that, so it is not an prompt repair, no.”