*Russia will emerge stronger, says Lavrov
*Will overshadow pro-Ukraine war anniversary events, warns Lavrov
*Lavrov says US was involved in Nord Stream explosions
*Ukraine targets corruption in bid to fulfill EU requirements
The Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov says a major new Russian offensive could begin around the symbolically important date of February 24, which marks the anniversary of the initial invasion last year, report according to Al Jazeera.
This was as the war-torn country and its western allies are putting plans in place to mark the first year anniversary of the war.
But sources in Moscow said all the pro-Ukrainian events arranged by Western allies to mark the anniversary on February 24, 2023 will be amazed.
The battle on the front lines in eastern Ukraine “has become tougher”, Ukrainian President Vladymyr Zelenskyy said, as Moscow pushes for gains before Kiev gets newly pledged military equipment from Western allies.
Bakhmut with 10 towns and villages around it are under fire as Russian forces manoeuvre to try to surround the strategic eastern city.
Three people have been killed and 20 injured after eight apartment buildings were hit by Russian missiles in Kramatorsk on Wednesday, according to police.
In the meantime, it has been said that Russia will emerge from the current situation stronger and better able to defend itself, its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In an interview on state TV, Lavrov said Russia was ready for peace in Ukraine but that you must be prepared to defend yourself if you want peace.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow has plans to overshadow pro-Ukrainian events arranged by Western allies to mark the anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine on February 24.
Lavrov said Russian diplomats were working on something to ensure Western-led events in New York and elsewhere were “not the only ones to gain the world’s attention”.
He did not provide further details.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also accused the United States of direct involvement in the explosions that severely damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea in September.
Lavrov provided no evidence for his claim during an interview on state TV. President Vladimir Putin has previously accused the UK of blowing up the pipelines, which London denied.
Swedish prosecutors found traces of explosives at the site of the damaged pipelines, confirming that gross sabotage had taken place.
On a different ground, the Ukraine has launched coordinated searches of residences linked to a divisive oligarch and former interior minister as well as tax offices, as it seeks to expand a clampdown on corruption and fulfill EU accession requirements.
The searches come ahead of a key summit with the EU on Friday and appeared to be part of a push by Kyiv to reassure military and financial donors in European capitals and Washington that Ukraine is tackling systemic corruption.
The searches have targeted influential billionaire Igor Kolomoisky and former interior minister Arsen Avakov, according to the head of Zelenskyy’s party, David Arakhamia.
Law enforcement also raided tax offices in the capital and senior customs officials were fired.
