Belarus, Russia
Russia ramps up strategic disinformation campaign north of Ukraine

Belarus
Belarusian 'Bellingcat' caught up in opposing disinformation campaigns

Run by exiled journalist and activist Anton Motolko, the @Hajun_BY Telegram channel gathers information about Russian troop and military hardware movements in Belarus. Used by private sector consultants and the Belarusian opposition alike, the channel has also come under attack from Belarusian intelligence services.

The Agencies' Gazette
Talabani family feud, US cyberguard, Russian nuclear comms, DGSE's secret stash, Tracfin-PNF cooperation, China's vision

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. Today, we head to Sulemaniyah and Beijing, via Washington, Moscow and Paris.

Iraq Talabani cousins revive family feud

United States Intelligence committee inspects National Cyber Guard

Russia The Kremlin's nuclear weapons 'leaks'

France DGSE's secret funds or special funds?

France Public auditor seeks closer cooperation between Tracfin and financial prosecutor

China Beijing eyes Southern states to realise international security vision

Belarus, Russia, Ukraine
Strategic disinformation over troops' movements in Belarus intensify on all sides

Belarusian troop movements and declarations from generals from Minsk to Kyiv are sowing confusion over Russia and Ukraine's actual intentions. When read from a certain angle, however, they also offer clues as to their respective strategic positions.

Belarus, Russia
Russia accelerates use of Belarus as rear training base

The recent troop movements on Ukraine's northern border illustrate Russia's use of Belarus as a training ground for its new recruits, and its aims to influence how the Belarusian command trains its own personnel.

Belarus, Ukraine
Parallel private diplomacy efforts between Kyiv and Minsk secretly thriving

Kyiv has been backing Minsk in Brussels despite Belarus's involvement with Russia. Thanks largely to the actions of well-connected middlemen in the business community, the war has not frayed the diplomatic ties between the two Eastern European capitals.

Ukraine, United States
Private military contractors thrust into heart of Ukraine conflict information war

Reeling from a dispute raging between its leaders, Russian information campaigns and blows to its reputation, Mozart Group's current predicament illustrates the delicate position in which such private security contractors operating on both sides of the conflict find themselves in.

Russia
Kremlin's favourite crisis management services compete for leadership of institutional security

In the middle of a security legislation overhaul, Moscow is increasing the powers of entities responsible for protecting state bodies, with the GUSP, the special presidential programmes department, gaining ground on another Kremlin favourite, the Rosgvardia.

Moldova, Russia
Moldovan intelligence ups its game in the face of Russian infiltration

With the Russia-Ukraine war unfolding on its doorstep, the small ex-Soviet state, which has just applied for EU membership, is bracing for disruption. Its security services are stepping up anti-corruption and anti-disinformation efforts against Russian infiltration in the country.

Belarus, Ukraine
US army veteran Matthew Parker hired to shore up Ukraine's northern flank

The retired NCO arrived on Ukrainian soil in March to coordinate the recruitment of foreign volunteers and is now training Ukrainian regular forces and helping with tactical planning on the border with Belarus.

Ukraine
Kyiv tries to stop Moscow benefiting from indirect IT support from the GAFAM

Although there are wide-ranging restrictions on the sale of military equipment and IT systems to Russia, some software and services are not covered by the sanctions. A group of experts is looking to remedy the situation.

Russia, Ukraine
Moscow's new high command embarks on three-stage scorched earth offensive

Surrounded by powerful rivals, new Russian commander in Ukraine Sergey Surovikin is looking to establish his authority with an audacious battle plan. His aim is to retake lost Ukrainian territory, force Kyiv to negotiate and win the confidence of Vladimir Putin.

Belarus, Russia
Is Belarus about to go to war with Ukraine?

Since the announcement of a partial mobilisation in Russia and the possible transformation of the "special military operation" in Ukraine into an official war, all parties are evaluating the risk of direct involvement of Belarusian troops in the hostilities.

Belarus, Russia
Minsk hopes to stall war effort with ammunition supplies to Russia

Belarus has been supplying large quantities of ammunition and missiles to its fraught neighbour for weeks. It hopes these pledges will allow it to keep its own troops out Russia's war on Ukraine.