Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the “biggest blow” in Kyiv’s counteroffensive campaign against Russian forces has yet to come but admitted the operation is difficult as Moscow is throwing all it can into the battle to prevent Ukraine from pressing forward.

Ukraine began the first stage of its long-rumoured counteroffensive two weeks ago to reclaim land occupied by Russian forces. But amid reports of slow progress by Ukraine’s forces and stiff resistance by Russia, officials in Moscow have claimed the Ukrainian offensive has failed.

Willie Bassey, a spokesman for the secretary to the Nigerian government, was quoted by national media confirming “the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector- General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect