Border guards and police uncovered a group that organized sham marriages between foreigners and Ukrainian women for $2,000-4,000. This allowed foreigners to legalize their stay in Ukraine and cross the border freely.
Operators of the "Hart" brigade's attack drones destroyed eight vehicles and enemy communication equipment in the South-Slobozhansky direction. Enemy personnel were also hit.
The passage of freight vehicles across Ukraine's state border with Moldova has been restored. Processing is carried out in normal mode in both directions.
Due to black ice, the processing of freight vehicles at the Ukrainian-Moldovan border has been temporarily suspended. This applies to Odesa and Vinnytsia regions.
Former head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhiy Deyneko, suspected of smuggling, was dismissed from military service due to health reasons. The medical grounds are not disclosed, but the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service noted that Deyneko had severe injuries.
Due to bad weather and ice, truck traffic is restricted on the border with Moldova in Vinnytsia, Odesa, and Chernivtsi regions. Drivers are advised to adjust their routes.
A fatal road accident involving a border guard occurred in Rivne region. A 42-year-old passenger died on the spot, and the driver was hospitalized.
Ukrzaliznytsia transported 116 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity during the first exchange this year. Among them are military personnel and civilians, most of whom have been in captivity since 2022.
A scheme has been uncovered in Zakarpattia where doctors were diagnosing fictitious tuberculosis to help individuals evade mobilization or obtain disability status. Six individuals, including medical professionals, were involved in substituting biological samples, charging up to $4,000 per service.
On February 5, the 71st prisoner exchange took place, as a result of which 150 military personnel and 7 civilians were returned. Among them are 19 illegally convicted defenders, 15 of whom received life sentences, as well as Mariupol defenders.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of 157 Ukrainians, including military personnel and civilians, as part of the first exchange after a long pause. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022.
In Vinnytsia region, a 31-year-old man drowned in the Dniester while trying to illegally cross the border. He crossed part of the river on ice, but could not withstand the low temperature and strong current.
A Lieutenant Colonel of the State Border Guard Service and his cousin from Russia smuggled over 70 conscripts into the EU for $17,000-20,000. They produced forged documents from the International Organization for Migration.
A man who tried to illegally cross the border with Romania was detained in Zakarpattia. He was wanted on suspicion of rape and tried to escape on the day of the trial.
The most powerful weapon is experience: "Athlon Avia" identified the best "Furia" crews at the Combat Experience Forum "Furia_Mission_2025".
In Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, a border guard operating an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) evacuated a wounded UAV pilot from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. The soldier sustained leg injuries and was transported using a ground robotic complex.
At all Ukrainian checkpoints on the border with Moldova, border control is carried out as usual. However, due to black ice, the processing of cargo vehicles has been suspended at some checkpoints.
The High Anti-Corruption Court has set bail of UAH 10 million for former head of the State Border Guard Service Serhiy Deineko and UAH 2 million for the former head of the border crossing point department. They are suspected of systematically receiving bribes for unhindered border crossing.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine refuted information about 500,000 young men leaving the country in the last six months, calling it biased. Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, stated that border guards had not made such assessments.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded former MP, and now military serviceman, Oleh Lyashko with the Order "For Merit" of the III degree. Also honored were soldiers of unmanned systems units, including Oleh Huita and Yuriy Fedorenko, who received the "Golden Star" Orders of Heroes of Ukraine.
The State Border Guard Service announced the resumption of database operations at Polish checkpoints. A technical failure had occurred earlier.
In Volyn, a law enforcement officer demanded UAH 200,000 from a serviceman for his transfer to a rear unit. The suspect was detained after the last transfer of UAH 100,000 and faces up to 8 years in prison.
Polish farmers planned a strike on January 23 at the Dolhobyczów-Uhryniv checkpoint, but no lane blockages were recorded. About 30 people gathered near the border without official permits for the blockade.
The driver of the Košice-Svaliava regular bus tried to break through the border in Uzhhorod to avoid detention. The 49-year-old man was wanted and fled to Slovakia, leaving the bus.
NABU and SAP announced suspicion to the former head of the State Border Guard Service and a current official of the State Border Guard Service. They were exposed for systematically receiving undue benefits for facilitating unhindered border crossing.
In Kharkiv Oblast, the enemy is active in the direction of Dihtiarne, attempting to expand the combat zone to Nesterne and Kruhle. Activity is also recorded near Dvorichanske and Vovchanski Khutory, but without success for the occupiers.
Russian troops most actively stormed the positions of Ukrainian border guards in the Pokrovsk, Lyman directions, and Kharkiv region. Over the past week, the enemy lost 161 killed and 146 wounded occupiers.
Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, reported a significant decrease in passenger traffic at the state border after the holidays. Over the past day, 63,000 citizens crossed the border, which is lower than average.
Border guards of the Mukachevo detachment recorded the aurora borealis over the Carpathians at three in the morning. This phenomenon occurs when charged particles of the solar wind collide with the Earth's magnetic field.
On January 18, the database for processing freight vehicles was suspended at the Ukrainian-Polish border at the Medyka and Hrebenne checkpoints. At the Korczowa and Krakovets checkpoints, freight processing is proceeding at a slower pace.
