Russia planning major offensive to mark first anniversary of war: Ukraine defence minister

Oleksii Reznikov said that as many as 500,000 troops may have been mobilised by Russia as he calls for more weapons to be sent to Ukraine

Russia is planning a major offensive to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, according to the country's defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov.

Speaking to French media, Reznikov warned that Russia would call on a large contingent of mobilised troops. Referring to Russia's general mobilisation of 300,000 conscripted soldiers in September last year, he claimed that numbers at the border suggest the true size could be closer to 500,000.