Ukraine's Defence Intelligence raids Russia's Belgorod region

This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU). 

Due to the increasing number of cases of sabotage by Russia and to protect Ukrainian civilians living in communities near the state border and suffering from Russian attacks, the DIU decided to conduct a special operation in the Belgorod region, Russia. 

The intelligence officers received information that the Russian army's top leadership would conduct an inspection at the Russian positions in the Graivoron district, Belgorod region, due to "dissatisfaction and complaints of the personnel there about poor service conditions." Before the arrival of the leadership, Russian soldiers began active engineering work. 

"In order to inflict losses on the enemy and worsen its moral and psychological state, the DIU special forces planned and carried out a special operation," the statement said. 

In particular, Ukrainian reconnaissance men mined the only road used by Russian forces in the area and attacked a Russian platoon stronghold. 

"The enemy suffered losses as a result of a fire attack involving small arms and mortars, as well as an explosion on Ukrainian mines. The number of killed and wounded occupiers is being clarified," the DIU added.

• On January 4, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed that a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber had burned down at the Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk, Russia, on the night of January 4.