Law enforcement reshuffle, missile strike on Kharkiv: highlights of the day

Fate of Defense Minister Reznikov

On the morning of February 5, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources in the President's Office, the Cabinet of Ministers, and law enforcement agencies, that Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov may resign from his post next week, and that his place will most likely be taken by the current head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.

During a press conference on February 5, Reznikov said that the decision on his possible dismissal was up to the head of state.

Reznikov also spoke about Russia's new alleged offensive, the planned supply of aircraft, and commented on his possible dismissal.

On the evening of February 5, Servant of the People MP Mariana Bezuhla said that the next session of the Verkhovna Rada would consider Reznikov's dismissal from the post of Defense Minister. Sources in the Servant of the People faction confirmed to Suspilne that Kyrylo Budanov would be nominated to head the agency.

Missile attack on Kharkiv

On the morning of February 5, Russian occupation forces launched a missile attack on the center of Kharkiv.

As a result, a five-story building of a higher education institution was completely destroyed. Five people were injured.

€6 million for air defense

Lithuania raised €6 million in a week to buy air defense systems for Ukraine. This is more than was planned to be raised.

The campaign started on January 30 and will last until February 24. At the beginning of the campaign, Lithuanians set a goal of raising 5 million. However, the entire amount and even more was raised in the space of a week.

Putin's promise not to kill Zelenskyy

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that in early March 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised him not to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Commenting on this statement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Putin a "master liar." He recalled that in the past, Putin had promised not to occupy Crimea, violate the Minsk agreements, or invade Ukraine, but he did all of that.

And despite Putin's statement, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly reported attempts to assassinate Zelenskyy. For example, on March 1, 2022, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov said that an assassination attempt on Zelenskyy, which was being prepared by an "elite group of Kadyrov's men," had been prevented in Kyiv Oblast.

Return of abducted children

Two more children who were illegally taken to Russia have been returned to Ukraine. The girls, aged 13 and 15, were taken into care and brought home by their older sister. The family is currently in Volyn.

Situation around Bakhmut

According to the British Ministry of Defense intelligence, Russian troops continued to make small gains over the past week in their attempts to surround Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast.

The situation with access to the city for the Defense Forces is deteriorating. The British note that the two main roads to Bakhmut, the M-03 and H-32, are now likely to be under threat of direct Russian fire.

Other news

• A grenade warhead was recovered from the body of a wounded Ukrainian soldier.
• Occupiers in the captured town of Tokmak in the southeast of Ukraine already outnumber locals. People are being evicted from their homes.
• The Ministry of Internal Affairs has started forming assault brigades called the "Offensive Guard". Volunteers are invited to join.
• The Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church apologized for praying for Patriarch Kirill.
• Ukrainian soldiers went to train how to operate SAMP/T-Mamba air defense systems.