Spymaster | Russia
Veteran spy Vladimir Bulavin heads customs service caught between war economy and internal feuds

The Agencies' Gazette
Taiwanese in Milan, Damascus and the Arab League, Russian customs chief

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Milan to Moscow via Damascus.

Italy/TaiwanTaipei uses business to renew political dialogue in Milan

SyriaArab League invitation but not reintegration on the cards for Damascus

RussiaCustoms chief succession causes headache

Russia
Russian customs service fights to extend its responsibilities

For years there was talk of Russia's customs service, the FTS, becoming part of the FSB, and the long-standing rivalry with the internal intelligence department has tarnished the two services ability to cooperate. However, a bill is now being pushed through to extend the FTS's responsibilities.

North Korea, Russia, Ukraine
Pyongyang's planned military technology transfers from Donbass

North Korea is putting together the necessary infrastructure to collect and receive Western military systems seized in the occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, using proven methods to effect the illegal technology transfers.

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
Sergei Korolev to carry Shanghai Pact's anti-terrorism flag

Russia has appointed rising intelligence star Sergei Korolev to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as it renews its membership with the regional alliance and ramps up efforts to counter various groups it qualifies as terrorist or extremist.

Russia
Serguei Korolev places friends at FSB

FSB economic intelligence service chief Serguei Korolev, a rising star [...]

Russia
FSB Calls The Shots

Bypassing prime minister Mikhail Fradkov who chairs the Federal Anti-Terrorism Committee, Russian president Vladimir Putin set up a National Anti-Terrorist [...]