By Le Figaro with AFP

Posted 2 hours ago, updated 5 minutes ago

Former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is the target of a search. Yuriy Dyachyshyn / AFP

UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – In the midst of the war against Russia, the corruption gnawing at the country primarily affected the supply of the army.

Searches of Ukrainian figures and governments, EU-Ukraine summit, delivery of long-range missiles, prison for a Russian journalist… This Wednesday, February 1, Le Figaro takes stock of the conflict in Ukraine.

Searches of personalities and administrations in Ukraine

Ukraine conducted a series of raids and police operations against an oligarch, administrations and officials over corruption cases, a scourge that is ravaging the country and particularly affecting army supplies in the midst of war.

David Arakhamia, the leader of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party, announced on Telegram that the police operations were particularly aimed at billionaire Igor Kolomoiski, ex-Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and the Ukrainian tax authorities, while the Customs Directorate dismissed them. Investigators also visited high-ranking Defense Ministry officials.

Deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine will not stem the Russian offensive

“It won’t change the course of things.” The Kremlin was well aware that the possible delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine would in no way affect the continuation of the Russian offensive in the country.

Deliveries of missiles with a range of 150 km would “lead to an increase in tension, to an increase in the level of escalation. We understand that it would mean additional efforts for us, but it will not change the course of events, the special military operation will continue,” Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

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Imprisonment in absentia for a Russian journalist who criticizes the Russian army

A Russian journalist and former MP, Alexander Nevzorov, has been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for allegedly spreading “false information” about the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine.

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From the first weeks of its attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia imposed heavy penalties to quell any criticism of its offensive and the army. “Mr. Nevzorov is sentenced to eight years in a penal colony,” said judge Evguénia Nikolaeva of Moscow’s Basmanny Court, according to Russian authorities.

EU-Ukraine summit on Friday in Kyiv sent a “strong signal” to Moscow

Ukraine and the European Union will hold a summit in Kyiv on Friday, February 3, with the Ukrainian government welcoming this “strong signal” sent to Moscow almost a year after the Russian invasion began.

Ukrainian soldiers drive a car in Bachmout, Donetsk region, Ukraine January 27, 2023. STRINGER/ Portal

This summit comes as the Russian army has been on the offensive in recent days to claim the capture of a village near Bakhmout, a focal point of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Such a meeting with the 27 is an important step a few months after Kyiv received official EU candidate status.

Netanyahu says he is considering military aid to Ukraine

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said his country was considering military aid to Ukraine, while offering to mediate in the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow.

“Well, I’m definitely looking at it,” Netanyahu said in an interview with US broadcaster CNN when asked if Israel plans to offer Ukraine assistance, such as with the Iron Dome air defense system.

SEE ALSO – Bruno Tertrais: “Many are wondering about the future of Russia, which is draining its talents”

A man and a woman were found shot dead in a house in La Lnea de la Concepción (Cádiz). Spain. They are a man with an Italian passport and a woman with Spanish and Swiss citizenship: three different sources from the Spanish National Police have reported this to ANSA. In both cases, gunshot wounds inflicted with a revolver were fatal. According to investigators, the main hypothesis is that there was a case murder-suicide. The personal details of the two deceased have not yet been released, while the ages of both are given 64 years old. Sources from the municipality of La Lnea de la Concepción indicate this a couple who have lived in the area for several years. The house where their bodies were found is in the hamlet La Alcaidesa. For its part, the Spanish government delegation against gender-based violence has announced that it is collecting “information” on the case, with the hypothesis that it is precisely a case of femicide. At noon, the citizens of La Lnea, together with the local authorities, held a minute’s silence in front of the town hall.

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the hypothesis

La Lnea Mayor Juan Franco told the media that he was “dismayed” by the incident. “We are awaiting confirmation, but all indications are that this is a case of gender-based violence,” he added.

The increase for unleaded gasoline (both 93 and 95 octane) was up 28 rand cents per liter (US$0.015).

In this way, the liter of this fuel reaches 21.68 rand ($1.24, up from 20.14 / $1.15) a year ago.

On the other hand, the value of a liter of diesel reached R21.32 ($1.22), up from R18.04 ($1.03) in February 2022.

The high of diesel in the last 12 months was R25.50 ($1.46) in November 2022.

Fuel prices in South Africa are typically adjusted on the first Wednesday of each month and are determined by international fuel values ​​and the Rand to Dollar exchange rate.

The world average price of oil, after falling below $78 a barrel in the first week of January, is now $86.16, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has reminded.

According to the source, this will be impacted by China’s increased demand for hydrocarbons as its economy reopens.

“Any hike in fuel prices now, at a time when South Africans are grappling with financial pressures and ongoing power cuts, among other things, is unwelcome,” commented the South African Automobile Association.

Regarding potential increases in fuel taxes, this group said that consumers simply cannot afford any more price shocks and, with electricity tariffs looming up by 18.65 percent, a tax increase would deal a serious blow to the personal finances of millions of people.

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Russian journalist Alexander Nezorov was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison by a Moscow court today. He was found guilty of spreading “false news” about the Russian army. Authorities filed a lawsuit against Nezorov last year for accusing the Russian army of deliberately bombing a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on social media.

The Russian government denied this at the time. If Nezorov returns to Russia, he will have to serve his sentence in a penal colony, the court said.

“Ridiculous”

Nezorow, whose YouTube channel has nearly two million subscribers, described the investigation as ridiculous. In March 2022 he left the country with his wife. In June, he was granted Ukrainian citizenship after publicly denouncing the Russian invasion, calling the war a crime and Ukraine a victim.

The verdict is based on a Russian law passed eight days after the invasion. It provides prison terms of up to 15 years for anyone who intentionally spreads false news about the Russian military. Russia has since blocked access to news sites that publish content that contradicts Moscow’s official line. Dozens of Russian and international media companies have left the country.