Ukrainian servicemen of the 48th artillery brigade fire a 2s22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. AP
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Firstpost02-01-2026, 18:31

Ukraine Warns of Russian 'False Flag' Attack to Derail Peace Talks

  • Ukraine's foreign intelligence warns of a "high probability of armed provocation" by Russia.
  • The potential false flag attack aims to derail US-mediated peace talks led by President Donald Trump.
  • Russia may stage a high-casualty incident in Russia or occupied Ukrainian territories, possibly targeting religious or symbolic sites, ahead of Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7.
  • The Kremlin plans to blame Ukraine, using Western-made drones, a tactic consistent with Russian special services' past operations.
  • Analysts cite the 1999 Russian apartment bombings, which justified war and boosted Putin's popularity, as a historical precedent for such tactics.

Why It Matters: Ukraine fears Russia will stage a false flag attack to sabotage peace talks and blame Kyiv.

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