SVR

Russia
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.

Russia
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.

The Intelligence Gazette
CIA and Taliban, UK geospatial intel, Russian control centre in Ukraine, Serbian BIA

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets of news, big and small, from the global intelligence community. This week we hone in on Doha, Baghdad, London and Moscow.

United States/AfghanistanIslamabad and Doha aid CIA-Taliban meeting.

United KingdomIntelligence issues in British space strategy.

RussiaIntelligence services at heart of new Ukraine coordination council.

SerbiaVucic blends geopolitics with internal security.

Russia
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.

Spotlight | Europe, Russia
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.

Indonesia, Russia
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.

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
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.

Belarus, Russia
Belarus's KGB administers caution on intelligence cooperation with Russia

The Russian and Belarusian intelligence chiefs met in Moscow on 7 July for what was a routine meeting but not one without its share of tension. Minsk is striving to retain autonomy from its great neighbour to the east.

Moldova
Moldova's new spy chief takes up duties in a climate of high tension

The new head of Moldova's Security and Intelligence Service already has a lot on his plate. He will have to deal with interference by Russian agents and potential unrest in Transnistria, as well as coordinating aid from the country's allies and leading negotiations with the EU.

Russia, Ukraine
Russian army high command reviews its strategic plan in Ukraine

The military situation has forced Moscow to change tactic throughout the conflict zone, from Kharkiv and the Donbass to Odessa. At the same time, the military defence staff is preparing to change the timeline and strategic objectives Russia has set itself in Ukraine.

France
Tracfin to speed up cryptocurrency investigations with private help

France's financial intelligence service Tracfin is looking to strengthen its capacities in response to the rising numbers of illegal transactions involving cryptocurrencies, at a time when ransomware attacks and sanctions evasion are increasingly rife.