Spymaster | Ukraine
Kyrylo Budanov, the ex-commando who's the star of Kyiv's military intelligence

Belarus
Belarusian opposition shaken by infiltration accusations

More powerless than ever against Alexander Lukashenko who has tightened his grip on power following recent events, Belarusian dissidents in exile are facing increasingly detailed accusations of collusion with Minsk intelligence.

The Agencies' Gazette
French watchdog seeks greater remit, Ukraine's GUR, intel master's degree changes venue, KGB and FSB cross swords

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from Paris, Kyiv and Minsk.

France CNCTR wants dibs on sovereignty files

Ukraine Budanov's deputy moves into the limelight

France Intel degree moves from Toulon to Saint-Cyr military academy

Russia/Belarus FSB and KGB bicker at the border

Spotlight | Ukraine
Turmoil and gains for Ukraine's spymasters at heart of the war

The Ukrainian intelligence landscape has undergone deep tectonic shifts since Russia's invasion nearly a year ago. Former prominent figures have fallen while previously less sought-after services have risen in power, cooperation partnerships have been formed and missions refocused.

Ukraine
Ukrainian asset recovery agency replenishes military coffers

Behind the military front in Kyiv is a war for control of private assets. Registered on Ukrainian soil, these assets and entities can be seized under criminal investigations or on the basis of sanctions, then sold for the benefit of the country's defence system.

Belarus, Russia, Ukraine
Moscow plans to hold Donbass with conscripts and prisoners

To make up for the extreme rawness of its recently mobilised recruits, Russia's military command has set up temporary training facilities near the front line and has taken steps to stem a growing tide of desertions.

Belarus
Belarus intelligence spreads fog of war over defectors and prisoners

The Belarusian KGB and ministry of the interior have been using real and fake arrests to spread confusion as it takes a more staunchly pro-Russian line. This is accompanied by attempts to infiltrate opposition movements.

France
French military gets offensive again in its information warfare against Russia

The French government is once more deploying its inter-force environmental actions centre's (CIAE) digital operations group (GON) to conduct online influence operations against Russia.

Spotlight | Ukraine, United States
Ukrainian military intelligence prepares to demonstrate its cyber offensive capacities in DC

A summit dedicated to the hybrid war between Ukraine and Russia is to take place in Washington, thanks to sponsorship from private sector cyber security and intelligence operators and CIA venture capital firm In-Q-Tel. The event will highlight the cyber offensive operations carried out by Ukraine's GUR.

Ukraine
Military intelligence expands mandate as its takes weapons trade under its wing

With state-owned arms trading firm SpetsTechnoExport now under its control, the military intelligence department GUR occupies a central position at the heart of Ukraine's defence industry.

Spotlight | Europe, Russia, Ukraine, United States
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.

Russia, Ukraine
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.

Russia, Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine expose each other's intelligence agents in their efforts to win propaganda war

The Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services are happy to showcase information about their own activities when they make arrests or score counter-intelligence successes but revealing the identities of the other side's intelligence agents is another well-tried weapon in their propaganda war.

Ukraine
Ukrainian parliament gives priority to debate on military intelligence revamp

The large reform of Ukraine's SBU internal intelligence service, which has already been partly carried out, has been temporarily suspended because of the war with Moscow. Priority is now being given to some hard thinking about military intelligence reform.

Ukraine
Kyiv engaged in intelligence legislation frenzy

The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has been busy lately producing amendments and bills aimed at facilitating the army's operations. It is now poring over military counter-espionage.