Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service warned on January 2, 2026, that Russia is preparing a large-scale provocation causing significant human casualties to blame Ukraine and disrupt U.S.-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, according to an X post by Sent Defender during the 59-minute reporting window from 10:15 AM to 11:15 AM UTC. Separately, the U.S. State Department issued a "DO NOT TRAVEL" advisory for Russia, as reported by Osint613 on X in the same period. The Ukrainian service, known as SZRU, described the planned operation as complex and timed potentially for Orthodox Christmas at a religious building or symbolic site in Russia or occupied Ukrainian territories, building on its earlier statement issued this morning and shared between 9:15 AM and 10:15 AM UTC. The U.S. State Department advisory cites escalation risks in the Russia-Ukraine war, echoing its prior recommendation for Americans to leave Russia immediately, as reported by Fox News earlier today. This warning follows Admiral Igor Kostyukov of Russia's Armed Forces handing over evidence of a Ukrainian drone allegedly used against President Vladimir Putin's residence in Novgorod Oblast to U.S. military attaché Capt. Richter Tipton in Moscow earlier on January 2, according to a Russian Defense Ministry video cited by Sent Defender.
