According to Ukraine’s outgoing defence minister, the nation is bracing for a major Russian offensive later this month.

Oleksiy Reznikov stated at a news conference that not all Western weapons would have arrived by that time but that Ukraine had sufficient stocks to repel Russian forces.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, forces are engaged in severe combat in the eastern cities of Bakhmut Vuhledar and Lyman.

A number of corruption scandals have afflicted the defence ministry, which has led to the reorganisation.

According to media reports, some defence officials are accused of embezzling money from the public coffers to buy food for the army, but Mr. Reznikov has refuted these claims.

War dictates personnel policies, according to Ukrainian MP David Arakhamia, who made the announcement on Sunday. A well-known figure in Ukraine’s quest to acquire Western weapons, Mr. Reznikov will now hold the position of minister for strategic industries.

As part of an extensive anti-corruption campaign across his government, President Zelensky has already dismissed a number of senior officials.

In a previous press conference, Mr. Reznikov stated that although Russia did not have all of its resources prepared.

The defence minister also stated that starting on Monday, troops would begin training with Leopard tanks built in Germany.

According to Mr. Reznikov, Ukraine has acquired new long-range missiles with a range of 90 miles.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, its leader, claimed that severe street skirmishes were taking place in several parts of the city and that Ukraine’s armed forces were “fighting to the death.”

The fight to retake Bakhmut from Russian soldiers has lasted for months, making it the protracted conflict since.

President Zelensky said: “Things are really bad in Donetsk region – violent fights” during his nightly address. But “we have no choice but to defending ourselves and winning,” he continued.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut are becoming more and more isolated.