President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine strengthened sections of the border with Belarus and the Russian Federation, according to Kyiv | Times reporting during the one-hour period ending at 4:15 PM UTC on January 2, 2026. Kyiv | Times published the statement from Zelenskyy, noting the fortifications along these border areas. The report questioned whether the move anticipates specific developments, though no further details on timing or reasons were provided in the announcement. In a separate development over the same period, an observer documented for the first time an infrared searchlight on a Shahed drone designed to blind anti-aircraft drones and aircraft. The individual stated that Russian forces continue countermeasures and called for reports of new or unusual findings to share across Ukrainian departments and structures, citing challenges with bureaucracy.
