UKRAINE SOWED CONFUSION MONDAY ABOUT WHETHER ITS DEFENCE MINISTER WOULD BE REPLACED, CREATING DOUBTS ABOUT TH

Unclear if defence minister will be replaced

KY IV • Ukraine sowed confusion on Monday about whether its defence minister would be replaced, creating doubts about the leadership of its war effort just as it braces for an expected Russian offensive.

The questions over Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov were the first public sign of serious disarray in Ukraine's wartime leadership.

A day after announcing that Reznikov would be sidelined, a top ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to walk it back, saying no changes would be made this week.

David Arakhamia, chief of the parliamentary bloc of Zelenskyy's party, had said the 37-year-old head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, would replace Reznikov, who would become minister of strategic industries.

But Zelenskyy remained silent, while Reznikov said on Sunday he had heard nothing.

The confusion caps a two-week crackdown on alleged official wrongdoing, Ukraine's biggest political and administrative shakeup since Russia invaded a year ago.

Central and regional officials were fired or quit, security forces raided a billionaire's home and investigations were launched into suspected fraud at the main oil company and refinery.

The Defence Ministry was accused of overpaying for food, although Reznikov was not personally accused of any wrongdoing.

Zelenskyy says he needs to show that Kyiv can be a safe steward of billions of dollars of Western aid.

But the moves may risk destabilizing a political class that had stood together against Russia's invasion.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have been advancing for the first time in six months in relentless battles in the east.

A regional governor said Moscow was pouring in reinforcements for a new offensive that could begin next week.

Russia's main target has been Bakhmut, where its state media said the Wagner mercenary group had gained a foothold.

Wagner chief Yevgeniy Prigozhin, accused by Ukraine of sending thousands of Russian ex-prisoners to their deaths around Bakhmut, released a video purportedly showing him in a tactical bomber that had just struck the town.

He said he would fly a fighter on Tuesday and challenged Zelenskyy to an aerial duel.

Ukraine is itself planning a spring offensive, but is currently awaiting delivery of promised longer-range Western missiles and battle tanks.