Around the World Ukraine braced for renewed Russian offensive later in February

Ukraine's outgoing Defence Minister has said the country is anticipating a new Russian offensive later this month.

At a news conference, Oleksiy Reznikov said not all Western weaponry will have arrived by then, but Ukraine had enough reserves to hold off Russian forces.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said troops are fighting fiercely in Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Lyman, in east.

Reznikov's comments came hours before he was replaced as Defence Minister in a Government reshuffle.

Military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov was appointed on Sunday today evening, according to a Ukrainian politician from Zelensky's party.

Reznikov has denied media reports that some defence officials are suspected of embezzling public funds for the procurement of food for the army.

Ukrainian lawmak- er David Arakhamia announced the reshuffle on Sunday, saying that "war dictates personnel policies".

At an earlier press conference, Reznikov said Russia did not have all of its resources ready to launch an offensive, but may do so anyway as a symbolic gesture, given the one-year anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion on 24 February.

He said Russia is expected to prioritise taking the whole of the eastern Donbas as well as launching offensives in the south and east of Ukraine to create a land corridor across all the areas it currently occupies.

The Defence Minister also confirmed that troops will start training on German-made Leopard tanks from today.

Reznikov said Ukraine had secured new long-range missiles with a range of 90mile (150km), but they will not be used against Russian territory - only against Russian units in occupied areas of Ukraine. (Excerpt from BBC News)