WAR IN UKRAINE: February 2, 2023
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 344
Ukraine's defence minister has said Russia is preparing a major new offensive, and warned that it could begin as soon as 24 February. Oleksii Reznikov said Moscow had amassed thousands of troops and could "try something" to mark the anniversary of the initial invasion last year. The attack would also mark Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day on 23 February, which celebrates the army. Mr Reznikov said Moscow had mobilised some 500,000 troops for the potential offensive - BBC
Three people have died in an attack on the city of Kramatorsk. Seven others were wounded in the city in Donetsk region after a Russian missile struck a residential building, the provincial governor said.
Ukrainian authorities have conducted a series of anti-corruption raids across the country, uncovering stashes of cash as well as luxury watches and cars. Among those caught up in the investigations is the acting head of the Kyiv tax authority, who was allegedly part of a scheme to overlook 45 billion Ukrainian hryvnia ($1.2 billion) in unpaid taxes - CNN
Russia is scrounging around for new ways to boost its military’s numbers in Ukraine without kicking off domestic backlash, according to a new British government intelligence assessment. “The Russian leadership highly likely continues to search for ways to meet the high number of personnel required to resource any future major offensive in Ukraine, while minimizing domestic dissent,” the intelligence analysis, shared said “Russian authorities are likely keeping open the option of another round of call-ups under the ‘partial mobilization,’” the assessment added - Daily Beast