Overview
- Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence said a monthlong special operation protected Russian Volunteer Corps commander Denis Kapustin and exposed those behind an alleged Russian-ordered assassination.
- Officials said Russian special services allocated roughly half a million dollars for the killing and that Ukrainian operatives obtained the funds.
- DIU published a video briefing to Kyrylo Budanov in which Kapustin appeared via link and the Timur Special Unit reported on the operation’s outcome.
- Kapustin stated that his temporary absence did not affect unit performance and that he is ready to resume command on Ukrainian territory.
- The announcement followed a December 27 report from the Russian Volunteer Corps claiming Kapustin had been killed during a mission on the Zaporizhzhia front.