All articles - Russia

Ukraine war plunges Russian embassies in Europe into uncertainty

Moscow's diplomatic missions in Western Europe, which parrot the Kremlin line on the Ukraine conflict, remain suspended on the fate of Western embassies in the Russian capital. This is despite the fact that, the expulsions of the last few years notwithstanding, the embassies last year were boosted by the arrival of new intelligence officers.

The Agencies' Gazette
Rosfinmonitoring, Pakistan's ISI

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community, this week from Moscow and Islamabad.

RussiaFinancial intelligence gagged

PakistanInter-Services Intelligence Peshawar network slips up

Spotlight
Tallinn, rear base for Ukrainian cyber companies at war

Several of the local firms Kyiv has put to use on its cyber front line with Russia, such as Cyber Unit Technologies and Hacken, are registered in Estonia. The Ukrainian vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov is responsible for overseeing procedural and legal matters.

How NATO prepared for a Russian offensive

In its response to Moscow's military assault on Ukraine, the North Atlantic alliance has regained its original purpose: the defence of its eastern front. France has been both at the forefront of its deterrance operations and acting as a mediator behind the scenes.

Syria, Russia's rear base in war on Ukraine

Throughout the course of its support to Damascus's residual military operations, Russia has steadily been investing in Syria since 2015. This has earned it two strategic Mediterranean bases that it can use in its offensive in Ukraine, all the while reducing its backing of the Assad regime.

Beijing concerned about the threat to its commercial interests in Ukraine

Although Chinese conglomerates have been forced to cease their operations in Ukraine, Beijing is observing a sort of neutrality on the conflict there, mixed with misgivings about Moscow's intentions. Ukraine is strategically important for China, particularly in the arms sector.

How Paris prepared its intelligence services for the Russian offensive in Ukraine

France was quick to set aside its reservations about the likelihood of an imminent Russian invasion and put its intelligence services and military units on standby a few hours before it started. The main focus was then to make up for its human resource gaps.

Consultant Gautier Mangenot makes Franco-Russian business debut in uncertain climate

The task of reorganising the Franco-Russian hydrogen forum, which is already running late and is now threatened by fall-out from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has been given to consultant and former CIFAL executive Gautier Mangenot.

Belarus intelligence informed Moscow of jammed interception channels over Ukraine

The Belarusian interception cells brought into the conflict in Ukraine by their ally, Russia, warned Moscow that they were suddenly unable to intercept signals in Ukraine, 10 days before the start of Russia's offensive.

Following Wagner's lead, RSB makes its move into Ukraine

While media attention in Ukraine has been focused on the Wagner group, other Russian private military companies have also been operating in Kyiv. Among those tasked with tracking down President Volodymyr Zelensky is RSB, a company made up of former GRU members that has long been operating in Wagner's shadow.

Russian influence activists got busy behind recognition of Donbas republics

The champions of Russia's protection of its "compatriots" - Russian-speaking descendants of the USSR that Moscow is trying to reconquer or keep in its cultural fold - were going all-out to support Moscow's latest moves in Ukraine.