All articles - Russia

Russia chooses deputy foreign minister as new ambassador in Beijing

The appointment has still to be approved by the Chinese foreign ministry, but should reinforce the strategic partnership Moscow is seeking to establish with its powerful neighbour. It is also an indication of Russia's multilateralist ambitions in Asia.

Moscow ready to welcome the pope...but only after the war

Pope Francis had to hold off plans to visit Russia as part of his efforts to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church, which also wants to play a role in resolution of the conflict, is trying to adopt a more open position.

The Agencies' Gazette
Tracfin, Shin Bet in Cairo, FSB's coast guards, the SBU

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets of news, big and small, from the global intelligence community. This week we hone in on Tracfin, Shin Bet in Cairo, FSB's coast guards, the SBU.

FranceTracfin seeks new chief to boost technical department.

Israel/EgyptRonen Bar on reconciliation mission in Cairo.

RussiaFSB coast guards take the plunge.

UkraineDeath a regional SBU head sparks probe.

Spotlight
Londongrad divided over use of SLAPPs and GDPR in lawsuits

Private investigators and lawyers representing foreign executives, particularly Russian, East European and Central Asian oligarchs, are bracing themselves for bitter fights over libel and privacy cases.

Kremlin ramps up action to keep news sources quiet

With information warfare tactics on the rise, journalists in Russia are coming under increased surveillance as the Kremlin tries any means possible to discourage potential sources from reaching out.

Spotlight
Under pressure from Kyiv and Washington, Moscow rows hard to keep its industries afloat

Besides their political function, Western sanctions against Moscow have taken on high stakes for security - both for NATO analysts seeking to assess the potential resilience of Russia's strategic industries and for Ukraine, which is keeping a close eye on Russia's emerging alternative trade routes.

S-RM tackles Russian crypto crime

S-RM pulled out of the Russian market in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, due to concerns about compliance, but its cyber branch is expecting an uptick in Russian ransomware cases.

Warsaw counts on homegrown talent to shore up its cyber defences

DDoS, data theft, the spreading of state narratives - the Polish government wants to fill the gaps in its cyber response by calling on local providers to upskill operatives and develop new tools.

Ukrainian and Russian intelligence services keep close watch over Kerch Strait Bridge

The Russian bridge over the 35 km-long strait, which has both symbolic and strategic importance, has been kept under increased surveillance by both the Ukrainian and Russian intelligence services in recent months.

Beregini, the shadowy Ukrainian hacker group cheered by Russian intelligence

A self-described group of Ukrainian hackers acting against Kyiv's policies, Beregini, has been gathering strong public support from experts close to intelligence circles in Moscow.

Russia focuses on increasingly strategic Arctic

The Kremlin is determined that sanctions will not affect business in the Arctic. With official encouragement, Russian business leaders are changing the map of the region in the wake of an exodus by Western companies.

From Moscow to Ukraine, demand for Rosgvardia continues to grow

The Russian paramilitary security service Rosgvardia is being stretched to its limits, as it is being deployed in the conquered areas of Ukraine and in its homeland, where the Ministry of the Interior needs it to ensure officials' safety.

Isolated Moscow revives industrial and academic relations with Pyongyang

Ater a break of two years caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Moscow wants to resume a series of joint industrial projects with its Asian neighbour, while staying within the tight restrictions imposed by the United Nations.

Ex-CIA agent Dan Hoffman joins CT Group in Washington

The Washington office of the intelligence division of political strategists Mark Textor and Lynton Crosby's CT Group has recruited Daniel Hoffman, a media-friendly former CIA officer in Eurasia.

Legal trio leads Russian oligarchs' anti-sanction campaigns in Brussels

In Brussels, three advocates from the Daldewolf law firm have specialised in representing Russian businessmen in their battle against European economic and individual sanctions.

Moscow stirs up personal data hornet's nest

Personal data, biometric data, civil registration: Russia's lawmakers have been tweaking the law to give its security services greater control of these hot-button files.