February 1, 2023 Russia-Ukraine news

By Sophie Tanno, Hannah Strange, Tara Subramaniam, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Leinz Vales and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 1:28 a.m. ET, February 2, 2023
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10:00 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Zelensky calls for an increase in sanctions against Russia

From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood in London 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen hold a joint press conference following their talks in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 1.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen hold a joint press conference following their talks in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 1. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the need to increase sanctions against Russia on Wednesday saying that the “terrorist state must feel the price of terror.” 

“I stressed the need to increase sanctions against Russia and our team stressed that the terrorists state must feel the price of a terror and its capacity to continue aggression should be restricted,” Zelensky said in a news conference after meeting with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Kyiv.

Zelensky continued to put pressure on Austrian businesses to “step up” their cooperation with Ukraine and help to rebuild and modernize the country’s energy systems, telling businesses to leave Russia and set up in Ukraine.

“We know the situation concerning Austrian business, which despite the brutal Russian terror, are not leaving Russia, and continue to support the terrorist state, we believe with their own taxes,” Zelensky said. “And therefore, we would like these businesses to go to Ukraine instead.”

He also urged individual Austrian companies not to “betray Austrian society,” saying it’s an important issue which will be resolved on the basis of “shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights.”

Zelensky’s comments come as Van der Bellen visited Kyiv on Wednesday to discuss financial and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. 

9:55 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Netanyahu says he would be willing to serve as mediator between Ukraine and Russia

From CNN's Sophie Tanno

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives an interview to CNN’s Jake Tapper on January 31.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives an interview to CNN’s Jake Tapper on January 31. (CNN)

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would be willing to serve as mediator between Ukraine and Russia.

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he was asked to mediate not long after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of last year but declined the offer as he was not prime minister at the time.

“I was opposition leader at the time and I said, well I have a rule; one prime minister at a time,” he said. 

When asked if he would agree to it now, Netanyahu said: “If asked by all relevant parties, I’ll certainly consider it but I’m not pushing myself.” 

“I’ve been around long enough to know that there has to be the ripe time and the ripe circumstances. If they arise, I will certainly consider it," he told CNN.

He added that he would want the United States in particular to ask him as “you can’t have too many cooks in the kitchen, and we have our own backyard to deal with.”

Netanyahu also stressed during the interview that he had a good relationship with US President Joe Biden, saying: “I think President Biden’s commitment to Israel is real, it’s not just words, it’s genuine, it comes from the heart. And my commitment to the alliance with the United States is real.” 

He said that Washington and Tel Aviv had disagreed on many things, including Iran, but the alliance between the two countries “had to be unshakeable.”

9:27 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Austrian president visits Kyiv as a "sign of solidarity"

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz

The Austrian President has arrived in Kyiv, according to a post on his Twitter account.

Later, Van der Bellen also posted a photo of himself in the Ukrainian town of Bucha on Twitter, commenting “Here in #Bucha, I mourn for every single life destroyed by this terrible war of aggression. These crimes against humanity, against everything we stand for, must not be forgotten and must not go unpunished.” 

He has also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

As he announced his visit on Twitter, he said: “This trip is a gesture for peace, a sign of solidarity with Ukrainians.” 

10:43 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Ukraine's anti-corruption searches included one tied to probe of deadly helicopter crash 

From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv and Mick Krever in London

Rescue services work at the scene of a helicopter crash in Brovary, Ukraine, on January 18.
Rescue services work at the scene of a helicopter crash in Brovary, Ukraine, on January 18. (Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Ukrainian authorities' nationwide anti-corruption searches included the search of former interior minister Arsen Avakov’s property. It was tied to an investigation into the Jan. 18 helicopter crash that killed 14, including the then-Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, according to Avakov.

Avakov was interior minister when the ‘Super Puma’ ES-225 helicopter involved in the crash was purchased from France as part of a contract signed in 2018. On Wednesday, he denied any wrongdoing.

“The investigating authorities did indeed conduct a search of my place – as part of working out one of the operational versions of the causes of the tragedy in Brovary,” Avakov said in a statement on Telegram. “The investigation was interested in the contracts for the purchase of Super Puma helicopters (Airbus Helicopters H225) by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

He said that the contracts were approved by parliament, and that the helicopters “have saved and will save thousands of lives.”

“The investigators behaved correctly, although the expediency of such investigative action looks a little dull, six years after the contract was concluded. Naturally, nothing corresponding to the interests of the investigation was found,” he added. 

As is standard, Ukrainian authorities have said they are investigating all possible causes of the helicopter crash, including pilot error, technical malfunction, and sabotage.

10:43 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Ukraine's anti-corruption searches revealed luxury watches, cars, thousands of dollars in cash and more

From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv and Mick Krever in London

 

Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday conducted a series of anti-corruption searches across the country. One of the initiatives as part of this series was the unsealing of an alleged scheme by the acting head of the Kyiv tax authority to look the other way on 45 billion Ukrainian hryvnia ($1.2 billion) in unpaid taxes.

The State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) said that it had found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, as well as luxury watches and cars, at the residence of the head of the Kyiv tax authority. 

The head of the Kyiv tax authority, “along with other members of the commission, made decisions on compliance or non-compliance with the risk criteria of taxpayers without legal grounds, which led to serious consequences,” the SBI said.

“The tax officials ‘do not notice’ these schemes, support their existence, or directly participate in them for systematic payment for their ‘services,’” the SBI said in a statement.

“As part of the criminal investigation into the abuse of power that caused grave consequences, SBI officers are conducting searches at the suspect's residence and workplace. During the investigation, they have already found 158,000 US Dollars, 530,000 Ukrainian hryvnia, 2,200 euros, luxury watches, cars, etc.”

The SBI released photos of the cash and luxury goods it said were found at the tax chief’s residence.

David Arakhamia, the parliamentary majority leader, said that the “entire management of the customs” agency has been dismissed, there have been “searches in the State Tax Service,” and that authorities have served “notices of suspicion to senior officials of the Ministry of Defense.”

The recent findings from the anti-corruption searches come after President Volodymyr Zelensky fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials amid a growing corruption scandal linked to the procurement of war-time supplies, in the biggest shakeup of his government since Russia’s invasion began.

9:55 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

According to Western officials, Russia is unlikely to see strategic success in any potential offensive in Ukraine this spring due to limited support on force ratios, equipment and logistics.

And, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky promised “new reforms,” Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday conducted a series of anti-corruption searches across the country, according to the country’s parliamentary majority leader.

Here are the latest updates:

  • "Maximum escalation:" Russia is gearing up for a “maximum escalation” of the war in Ukraine, potentially as soon as the next few weeks, according to a top Ukrainian national security official. “These will be defining months in the war,” Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told Sky News.
  • Spring offensive: According to Western officials, Russia is struggling to replace its losses in Ukraine ahead of a possible spring offensive. Limitations on equipment and logistics might not prevent Russia “from trying to launch an offensive,” but their “ability to change the course of the conflict at the moment is constrained,” the officials said.
  • Anti-corruption searches: Hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky promised “new reforms,” Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday conducted a series of anti-corruption searches across the country, according to the country’s parliamentary majority leader. Zelensky announced on Tuesday that his administration is preparing to introduce changes ahead of talks between Kyiv and the European Union scheduled for Friday.
  • Fighter jets: Top Ukrainian officials have in recent days escalated their public lobbying campaign for US-made F-16 fighter jets, arguing they need them urgently to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks. But that push is being met with skepticism by US and allied officials who say the jets would be impractical.
  • Bakhmut turned to "total ruin:" Russian troops are pummeling the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut into what the Donetsk region military administration head Pavlo Kyrylenko called a “total ruin.” Two people were killed on Tuesday, including one underage boy, Kyrylenko said on Telegram. Four civilians were wounded, he added.

10:43 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Ukrainian authorities conduct nationwide anti-corruption searches

From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva

David Arakhamia attends the Ukraine Recovery Conference URC in Lugano, Switzerland, on July 5.
David Arakhamia attends the Ukraine Recovery Conference URC in Lugano, Switzerland, on July 5. (Michael Buholzer/Reuters)

Hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky promised “new reforms,” Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday conducted a series of anti-corruption searches across the country, according to the country’s parliamentary majority leader.

David Arakhamia announced on Telegram that authorities were conducting a “spring raid campaign instead of sowing campaign.”

Alongside “a whole series of covert investigative actions,” Arakhamia said that property searches were conducted of former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, businessman Ihor Kolomoisky, and politician Vadim Stolar.

He said that the “entire management of the customs” agency has been dismissed, there have been “searches in the State Tax Service,” and that authorities have served “notices of suspicion to senior officials of the Ministry of Defense.”

“The country will change during the war,” he said. “If someone is not ready for change, the state will come and help them change.”

Zelensky announced on Tuesday that his administration is preparing to introduce changes ahead of talks between Kyiv and the European Union scheduled for Friday.

"We are preparing new reforms in Ukraine. Reforms that will change the social, legal and political reality in many ways, making it more human, transparent and effective," Zelensky said in a video address, adding that further details would be announced at a later date. 

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had announced the "summit" earlier on Tuesday but provided no details on who would attend.

Shmyhal told Politico in an interview published Monday that Ukraine, which was granted EU candidate status in June last year, has an "ambitious plan" to join the bloc within the next two years.

8:44 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

Kremlin says few signs for nuclear arms control dialogue, but treaty is "important"

From CNN's Anna Chernova

A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launcher parades through Red Square during the general rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow, Russia, on May 7.
A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launcher parades through Red Square during the general rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow, Russia, on May 7. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)

Moscow said on Wednesday that there are few signs suggesting that the Russia-US dialogue on the nuclear arms control treaty will continue but the agreement is “important” as it is the only one that is still viable.

“We consider the continuation of the [START] treaty very important. It is actually the only one that still remains, hypothetically speaking, viable,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

Peskov went on to accuse Washington of destroying the basis for the treaty with NATO’s military infrastructure “working against” Russia which “creates very hostile conditions.”

“We see that the United States has actually destroyed the legal basis in the field of arms control and security,” Peskov said.

“We see how the entire military infrastructure of NATO works against the Russian Federation. We see how the entire NATO intelligence infrastructure -- including reconnaissance aircraft and satellite constellations -- works 24/7 in the interests of the Ukrainian regime,” he added.

“Of course, all this creates very hostile conditions for us, which we cannot ignore.”

Peskov’s comment came after the US State Department accused Russia of violating its obligations under the New START Treaty -- a key nuclear arms control agreement with the United States. 

8:44 a.m. ET, February 1, 2023

German parliament vice president arrives in Kyiv

From CNN's Mick Krever and Stephanie Halasz

The vice-president of the German parliament, or Bundestag, has arrived in Kyiv, she said on Twitter.

“Kyiv. I arrived here today by night train,” Katrin Goering-Eckardt said. “Ukrainians are defending their country & our common freedom. I admire their courage. In the next few days, I would like to get a picture of the reconstruction, the humanitarian situation and the difficult everyday life on the ground.”

Goering-Eckardt's trip comes after Germany confirmed last week it will send a long-demanded contingent of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in a major sign of support for Kyiv.

The announcement made for a landmark moment that followed weeks of intense pressure on Berlin from some of its NATO allies.

Goering-Eckardt expressed her support for the decision, writing on Twitter on January 24: "The #Leopard's freed!"

However, on Germany's streets, reactions were mixed, with some citizens telling CNN that they were concerned about how the war may now escalate.