State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

A spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service reported no unusual situations on the border with Russia in Sumy region. The enemy continues shelling the border, but has stopped trying to expand the combat zone.

The Ministry of Defense is launching the “Drone Line” project for five elite regiments and brigades. The project will create a strike zone of up to 15 km and provide constant air support for infantry.

Two conscripts who tried to illegally cross the border with Romania were detained in Zakarpattia. The men had been wandering in the mountains for three days until border guards found them following footprints in the snow.

The State Border Guard Service showed photos of snow-covered sections of the border in Bukovyna and Zakarpattia. In mountainous areas, temperatures have dropped to -20°C, and snow drifts are up to two meters high.

The State Border Guard Service does not note any changes on the border with Belarus, but the direction remains threatening.

Lithuanian border guards discovered an underground tunnel on the border with Belarus that was being used for smuggling. With the physical barrier in place, smugglers are looking for new ways, including balloons.

The Forpost brigade and other border guard units struck about 60 enemy positions in the Kharkiv region. Over the course of the day, 50 occupants were killed and 20 others were wounded.

Border guards detained a woman who recruited Ukrainian women for sexual exploitation in the Czech Republic under the guise of working in nightclubs. The offender promised to earn 100 euros per hour.

In Zakarpattia, border guards rescued two men who got lost in the snowy highlands while trying to illegally cross the border. The violators with hypothermia were taken to the hospital and administrative reports were drawn up.

A Ukrainian purchased forged documents for three non-existent children for 6 thousand euros to travel abroad. Border guards exposed the attempted fraud because the documents did not match the established samples.

Russian troops have been attacking the border areas of Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions since the beginning of the year, using air power. Enemy subversive reconnaissance groups continue to attempt to infiltrate Ukrainian territory.

The State Border Guard Service reports 2,500 attacks on the border of Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions since the beginning of the year. Most attempts of infiltration by subversive groups were recorded in the Sumy sector.

There are no unusual situations on the border with Belarus, but tensions remain due to the presence of Belarusian troops. Ukraine is strengthening its defense and preparing for possible threats.

The Government increased the staff of the Ministry of Regional Development by 70 employees. At the same time, the staff of a number of other government agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, the State Statistics Service, and the State Labor Service, was reduced.

The State Bureau of Investigation has served MP Kostiantyn Bondariev with a notice of suspicion for organizing illegal border crossing. He helped 18 men of military age to travel abroad under the guise of their drivers.

The SBGS leadership met with representatives of the Spanish government to expand cooperation. Ukraine received two Mercedes ambulances and medical supplies from Spain.

Law enforcement officers are conducting more than 200 searches in 19 regions of Ukraine to investigate the illegal departure of persons liable for military service abroad. The investigation revealed schemes involving forgery of documents and bribery of officials.

The number of border violators decreased by 40% compared to July. The SBGS exposed more than 720 illegal groups that helped people cross the border illegally for $5-20 thousand.

In 2024, Russia conducted 124 military exercises in Crimea, three times more than in 2023. The exercises are conducted in the Black and Azov Seas, including air defense training.

A spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service reported no changes on the border with Belarus and no troop movements. Nevertheless, the direction remains threatened by Russia's influence on Belarus.

According to the State Border Guard Service, 443,000 Ukrainians who traveled abroad in 2024 did not return. This is a threefold increase compared to 2023, when 134,000 citizens did not return.

Ukraine received a 155 mm DITA self-propelled artillery system from the Czech Republic. The system is automated, requires only two operators and has a high rate of fire.

Since the beginning of 2024, the State Border Guard Service has reported 59,000 refusals to cross the border, mostly to men aged 18-60. Most violations are recorded on the border with Romania and Moldova, and there has been a decrease in illegal crossing attempts.

Training of the joint command of the Belarusian and Russian troops has started in Minsk and will last until January 16. The exercise is a preparation for the West 2025 strategic maneuvers.

State Border Guard Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko said that military exercises in Belarus until January 31 do not pose a threat to Ukraine. There are currently not enough Russian troops on the territory of Belarus.

Border guards detained 8 residents of Zakarpattia while trying to illegally cross the border with Hungary. One of the offenders was a minor, and all the detainees were referred to court.

The State Border Guard Service and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine are closely monitoring military exercises in Belarus near the Ukrainian border. The exercises will take place from January 8 to 31 in the Gomel district with the involvement of territorial troops.

From January 4 to January 10, 2025, 508 thousand people crossed the Ukrainian border, which is 16. 9% more than the previous week. The largest flow was observed on January 4-5, when more than 105 thousand people crossed the border daily.

The National Police has served 45 suspicion notices to organizers and participants of the illegal border trafficking schemes. More than 600 searches are being conducted with the participation of various law enforcement agencies.

The State Border Guard Service does not record the movement of Belarusian military equipment and personnel near the Ukrainian border. SBGS spokesperson Demchenko said that Belarus is only escalating the situation with constant exercises.