First, links to reports from Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Post, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, and a KUCINICH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM
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FROM FEB. 2 Ukraine suspends senior defence offical amid corruption prove. From Reuters. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has suspended a senior official while authorities investigate suspected corruption in the procurement of weapons, his ministry said on Friday. Toomas Nakhkur, who led the defence ministry’s department for technical policy and weapons development, was . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM FEB. 1 Latest defense corruption case goes after officials allegedly tied to deadly ammunition shortage, by Vladyslav Kudryk | The Kyiv Independent Police are investigating five people of possible involvement, including the former and current heads of a Defense Ministry department that buys weapons. The five in the alleged $39.6 million scheme . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM FEB. 3 The EU is providing Ukraine with $54 billion. How will the money be spent? From AP. European Union leaders on Thursday sealed a deal to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 million) to shore up its war-ravaged economy after Hungary dropped weeks of threats to veto the measure. The aid package aims to stabilize Ukraine’s economy, pay for rebuilding, and . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s Defense Ministry revises mobilization bill, by Maryna Shashkova | Kyiv Post Among other details of the new proposal, the Ministry of Defense believes it is necessary to lower the age of mobilization from 27 to 25, and it proposes introducing basic military training for citizens aged 18 to 24. It will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women. READ MORE . . .
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Death toll hits 28 in occupied east Ukraine strike: Russian rescuers. From AFP. The death toll from a strike on a bakery in the occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk has climbed to 28 people, including a child, Russian rescuers said today. Moscow’s occupation forces on Saturday said Kyiv had targeted a bakery that is popular on weekends. READ MORE . . .
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Russian forces improve positions on frontline in Krasny Liman area over week. From Tass. MOSCOW — Units from Russia’s Battlegroup Center have improved their positions on the frontline in the Krasny Liman area and repelled three attacks by assault units of Ukraine’s armed forces and the Azov battalion (outlawed in Russia), the Russian Defense Ministry said. The total losses of the Ukrainian armed forces have amounted . . . READ MORE . . .
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A Ukrainian kindergarten teacher returns to the classroom. Reported by Elissa Nadworny | NPR Iryna Sahan, a kindergarten teacher in Kharkiv, heads back to the classroom for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.
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TO BE CONTINUED