Ukraine war: Russia plans 24 February attack, Ukrainian defence minister warns.

(BBC) ⸻ Ukraine's defence minister has warned that Russia is preparing a major new offensive, which could begin as soon as 24 February. The attack would mark Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day and three people have died in an attack on the city of Kramatorsk. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a general mobilisation of some 300,000 conscripted troops, which he said was necessary to ensure the country's "territorial integrity". However, Mr Reznikov suggested that the true figure recruited and deployed to Ukraine could be far higher. Russia has claimed recent gains in the eastern Donbas region and its forces say they are moving in on the front-line town of Bakhmut after a battle that has lasted months and led to heavy loss of life on both sides. Mr Reznikov said Ukraine's commanders would seek to "stabilise the front and prepare for a counter-offensive" ahead of the rumoured Russian advance. He has faith that the year 2023 can be the year of military victory. The defence minister of Ukraine, Valeriy Reznikov, has announced a deal to purchase additional MG-200 air defence radars. This comes as Ukrainian intelligence alleges that President Putin has ordered his forces to seize the Donbas before the end of spring. However, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that there were no indications that Mr Putin had limited his military goals to seizing eastern regions of Ukraine. Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said that intense fighting was continuing in the Donbas region, where Russian forces and Wagner Group mercenaries have been trying to take the town of Bakhmut. Mr Zelensky warned that the situation on the front lines of the conflict was testing his forces. The Wagner group has claimed it has been heavily involved in Russia's recent advances in the east, but a former commander who fled to Norway has told Reuters that he witnessed the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners taken to Ukraine to fight for the group. About 80% of Wagner's personnel in Ukraine have been drawn from prisons, according to the US National Security Council.