(Reuters) – Ukraine is changing Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, an ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on Sunday, a transfer that would have far-reaching penalties for the practically year-long battle towards invading Russian forces.

FIGHTING IN THE EAST

* Reznikov might be changed by Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the GUR navy intelligence company, the top of Zelenskiy’s parliament bloc mentioned.

* Zelenskiy has fired a collection of excessive stage officers this 12 months in a purge aimed toward clamping down on corruption. Reznikov had been beneath strain over a corruption scandal within the ministry.

* Zelenskiy revoked the citizenship of a number of former influential politicians on Saturday within the newest step to “cleanse” Ukraine of pro-Russian influences.

* Fierce battles being fought in Ukraine’s Donetsk area “are very tough,” Zelenskiy mentioned, as Kyiv braced for a potential Russian offensive this month earlier than the primary anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

* “Issues are very tough in Donetsk area – fierce battles,” Zelenskiy mentioned in his nightly video tackle. “However nonetheless tough it’s and nonetheless a lot strain there’s, we should endure … We’ve got no different to defending ourselves and profitable.”

* “Not the entire Western weaponry will arrive in time. However we’re prepared. We’ve got created our sources and reserves, which we’re capable of deploy and with which we’re capable of maintain again the assault,” Reznikov mentioned earlier than the information about his switch.

* Reznikov additionally mentioned Ukraine is not going to use longer-range weapons pledged by the USA to hit Russian territory and can solely goal Russian items in occupied Ukrainian territory.

* The top of Russia’s non-public Wagner militia mentioned on Sunday that fierce preventing was ongoing within the northern elements of the Ukrainian metropolis of Bakhmut, the main focus of Russian forces’ consideration for weeks.

*Ukrainian forces remained accountable for the village of Bilohorivka, the Luhansk area governor Serhiy Haidai mentioned on Sunday, including that the state of affairs there’s tense, however beneath management. Some Moscow-installed officers and pro-Russian navy bloggers have not too long ago claimed Russian advances within the route of Bilohorivka, the final a part of Luhansk held by Ukrainian forces.

Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the battlefield accounts.

OIL, DIPLOMACY

* Value caps on Russian oil doubtless hit Moscow’s revenues from oil and gasoline exports by practically 30% in January, or about $8 billion, from a 12 months in the past interval, Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA) chief Fatih Birol mentioned on Sunday.

* Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Baghdad on Sunday to debate boosting bilateral relations and power cooperation, the Iraqi Overseas Ministry spokesman mentioned in an announcement.