SVR

Chinese zero-day hunters skirt restrictions via Russian platforms 

Increasing numbers of Chinese vulnerability researchers are selling their findings via specialised Russian platforms, in the context of stricter regulation of the sector in China. The emerging trend also puts China's ability to collect zero days via cohorts of disciplined hackers into perspective.

Despite change at the top, sparring continues at CSTO 

Kazakhstan's Imangali Tasmagambetov, the next head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Central Asia's answer to NATO, will struggle to improve the body's standing with some member states.

Armenia plans security apparatus overhaul under watchful eyes of neighbours 

Armenia's 2023 budget discussions bring back into the public debate the creation of an external intelligence service, at a time of instability in the political and security environment in the region.

Kremlin puts its think tank in media spotlight 

The Russian Institute of Strategic Research, headed by former external intelligence chief Mikhail Fradkov, is under orders to raise its media profile.

New FSB special forces chief takes charge 

Alexander Bondarenko is the new commander of the FSB's special forces and will oversee counter-terrorism, critical infrastructure protection and operational support operations in Ukraine. Predecessor Alexander Tikhonov is stepping down following a legal scandal.

• UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN - Islamabad and Doha aid CIA-Taliban meeting.

• UNITED KINGDOM - Intelligence issues in British space strategy.

• RUSSIA - Intelligence services at heart of new Ukraine coordination council.

• SERBIA - Vucic blends geopolitics with internal security.

Vladimir Selin: the FSB's man in charge of protecting state secrets 

Vladimir Selin, head of the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control, also heads the inter-ministerial committee for the protection of state secrets, which is tightly controlled by the FSB. Its main purpose is to oversee the systems used to protect vital, strategic information.

Baltic traders ensuring continued export of industrial equipment to Russia 

While Lithuania's political class strongly condemns Moscow and is pushing for tough sanctions on the country, the Baltic state is still a hub for shipments of Western European machinery and electrical equipment to Russia. These exports are often camouflaged under a Kazakh flag.

Minnikhanov leads business rapprochement between Russia and Indonesia 

Russia, which is looking to strengthen its trading links with South Asia, is counting on Tatarstan president Rustam Minnikhanov to promote the exportation of its oil products to Indonesia.

Lavina Pulse, Russia's "Cambridge Analytica", is looking to export its services to South East Asia  Free

Lavina Pulse, which is always ready to offer its influence skills to election candidates, is looking to expand into Asia.

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.

Kyiv goes after FSB's mole recruitment unit 

The Ukrainian intelligence services are keeping a very close eye on the actions of the FSB's operational information department, which has recruited several local operatives able to spread Russia's narrative within Ukraine.