SBU

Russia, Ukraine
Donetsk takes a page from Russia's anti-terrorist playbook

The self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk's main security and intelligence institution has handed the keys for its security infrastructure to Russian emissaries.

The Agencies' Gazette
Syrian Kurds at French National Assembly, Kyrgyz diplomacy, Ukrainian BEB, US farm security

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

France/SyriaYPG representatives at the French National Assembly

UkraineEconomic security office headless

KyrgyzstanEx-spymaster on the rise in diplomatic corps

USFood security as well as agricultural sovereignty

India, Israel
Israeli OSINT firm Cyberglobes prospects in India

Israel's Cyberglobes, a particularly active exporter of open source intelligence solutions despite its ban from Facebook and other US platforms, has recently been prospecting in India.

Belarus, Europe, Ukraine, United States
US lobbying giant APCO to help Ukraine-based initiative pushing for Kyiv and Minsk's EU integration

The US lobbying firm has been commissioned by a new Brussels-based NGO, Center for a European Future, to help prepare the ground for Minsk and Kyiv's EU integration. The think-tank is led by an experienced PR professional with strong ties in Ukraine but few contacts in Minsk.

Spymaster | Ukraine
Ukraine's bodyguard in chief Sergiy Rud

Ukraine's department of state protection, UDO, which is responsible for Vladimir Zelensky's security and other key interests at the heart of the state, has to meet the considerable challenge of protecting the president's life under threat since the very first hours of the Russian invasion.

Russia, Ukraine
Russian intelligence puts down roots in Donetsk

Firmly established in Donbas for many years, Russia's intelligence services have been gradually taking over the dense security apparatus in Donetsk.

Ukraine
Nassonov and Pechenizhky, EU and NATO event planners in war-torn Ukraine

Amid the turmoil of war, a group of Ukrainian entrepreneurs are finding caterers and concierge services, and organising summits and conferences, for international organisations in Kyiv.

Ukraine
Ukraine seeks to jettison Russian OSINT technology

Having relied for many years on free open source technology, some of Russian origin, Ukraine is now looking to develop its own tools in an area that is crucial for its war effort.

France, Ukraine
Ukrainian helicopter crash revives anger over Airbus contract

The helicopter that crashed in Ukraine last month, killing the country's interior minister, was one of a fleet from France that security officials had complained were in poor condition. The role of the previous minister, Arsen Avakov, in the deal is under scrutiny.

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
Ukraine's economic security services under close scrutiny

The Ukrainian government has discreetly launched a parliamentary inquiry into possible financial wrongdoing by officers in charge of economic security. A number of services - including internal intelligence, the SBU, and economic security, the BEB - will be probed.

Ukraine
Ukrainian space agency takes on enhanced satellite communications role

Work is piling up on the desk of the new interim head of the Ukrainian space agency as the war with Russia rages on. The agency is set to take on greater responsibility for satellite communications, but wants to become more self-sufficient in this area and improve its overall efficiency.

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.

Spotlight | Europe, Israel, United States
Meta threat report puts OSINT specialists under the spotlight

The US technology giant's December threat report highlights several open source intelligence (OSINT) firms, from Social Links to Cyberglobes and Avalanche, marking a shift in the relatively benevolent view of the practice observers have taken until now.