Ukraine on brink of very active war phase, Ukraine’s military intelligence says
The war in Ukraine is on the eve of a “very active” period, Andriy Yusov, who represents the intelligence department in Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, said on national television. He expected the fighting to intensify in February and March.
“We are on the edge of a very active phase of hostilities, February and March will be very active,” Andriy Yusov said. The situation on the frontline is difficult, he added, as the enemy continues the offensive.
As Ukraine is solidifying international support and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will meet again later this month, the Russians continue to send the draftees and convicts of the Wagner group and other private military contractors to storm Ukrainian positions, Yusov said.
Russia’s losses are way bigger than those on the Ukrainian side. Yet, Russia continues to try to turn the number of its troops into advantage, the representative of Ukraine’s defense intelligence said.
Ukrainian authorities conduct clean-up of public servants, raid oligarchs
On Wednesday, February 1, Ukrainian authorities carried out raids across the country as part of a crackdown on corruption, making waves in Ukraine.
Here’s what happened during the day.
The Security Service and the State Bureau of Investigation searched the home of former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov as part of an investigation into a helicopter crash in Brovary on January 18 that killed the leadership team of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.
The Bureau of Economic Security and the Security Service raided the home of oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi as part of an investigation into a UAH 40 billion (approx. USD one billion) tax evasion and money laundering case at Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta.
Ukrainian authorities searched the home of Vadym Stolar, MP of the suspended party Opposition Platform — For Life, owner of a construction business in Kyiv, in connection with a terrorist financing case.
The State Bureau of Investigation searched the offices of the State Tax Service, particularly of the Kyiv tax authority and the home of its chief.
The Office of the Prosecutor General charged three people following the purchase of military rations at inflated prices by the Ministry of Defense. Two of them are public servants at the ministry.
Head of the “Servant of the People” (Sluha Narodu) parliamentary faction Davyd Arakhamia said that more investigation work was underway without public announcement.
On Wednesday, February 1, the Cabinet of Ministers (Ukraine’s government) dismissed acting head of the State Customs Service Vyacheslav Demchenko, his deputy Oleksandr Shutskyi, and acting head of the State Tax Service Tetyana Kiriyenko, sources in the government said. There were no details on why they were dismissed.
The significance of documenting the war. Ukraine in Flames #328
With war photography, there are many moments that can speak and become historical facts. Seeing is believing, so even though most of us are not in the centre of the war, photos that show the struggle of soldiers or tears of the civilians make us feel that this is happening next to us. Watch Ukraine in flames #328 to find out how it feels to document the war on the frontlines and how Ukrainian photography gains attention from all over the world.
Guests:
- Christopher Occhicone, documentary photographer and photojournalist
- Yuriy Stefaniak, photographer
