Russia Claims Advances; Outgoing Def Min Speculates On New Offensive

Earlier today Russia's state-run Interfax reported that Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Mykolaivka in the Donetsk Oblast of eastern Ukraine. The so-far unverified claims come as the Ukrainian government has speculated that Russia could launch an offensive across a broad front in the east as the anniversary of the launch of the invasion approaches on 23 February.

• Outgoing Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated that Western support in the form of tanks would not be in place by that point, but claimed Ukraine would be able to withstand such an offensive.
• Reznikov is departing as allegations of financial impropriety at the Defence Ministry swirl amid a broader anti-graft crackdown in the Zelenskyy administration.
• Military intelligence chief General Kyrylo Budanov is favourite to take over as defence minister. However, this would require a change in primary legislation that requires the office holder to be a civilian.