Russia
Konstantin Zatulin courts compatriots abroad with new bill

Russia
Russian soft power services and agencies promote Russian unity in North Caucasus and Crimea

Away from the military front, Russia and Ukraine are also waging an influence war, with Moscow trying to foster loyalty to the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus ethnic Muslim republics.

Russia, United States
US intelligence got confirmation of Russia's plans to invade Ukraine on 18 January

After regular alerts over a two-month period, American intelligence services were able to corroborate their suspicions about Russia's intentions towards Ukraine on 18 January. It was on this date that Washington was finally able to assemble the trail of clues left by Moscow into a coherent whole.

Russia, Ukraine
Russian influence activists got busy behind recognition of Donbas republics

The champions of Russia's protection of its "compatriots" - Russian-speaking descendants of the USSR that Moscow is trying to reconquer or keep in its cultural fold - were going all-out to support Moscow's latest moves in Ukraine.

The Intelligence Gazette
CIS, UK counter state threats bill, Palestine-Algeria

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

Palestine-AlgeriaMaster spy Noureddine Mekri takes a stab at Palestinian reconciliation

United KingdomChristine Lee affair sparks Tom Tugendhat's push for draft bill on counter state threats

Russia'Compatriot' think-tank receives award

Spotlight | Russia, Ukraine
Kyiv and Moscow weaponise citizenship in battle for influence

The "Centre", the headquarters of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence agency, has long used compatriots for intelligence or influence operations. Ukraine has in contrast relied little on its own nationals or descendants living abroad. But Volodymyr Zelensky now intends to exploit this precious resource.

Russia
NIIRK spymasters scrutinise Baltic and Central Asian countries via state media

NIIRK, the small scientific research centre made up of ex-KGB agents is making assessment of "communication flows" a central priority. It is examining these in the three Baltic countries and five Central Asian states where Moscow is trying to push its narratives using soft power tools, such as the Rossotrudnichestvo and state media outlets.

France, Russia
Russian Geographical Society sets up in Paris under the aegis of soft power experts

For the inauguration of its new centre in Paris headed by academic Darya Loyola, the powerful Russian Geographical Society called in experts in Russian-French relations, as well as professional promoters of Russian policy for compatriots abroad.

Belarus, Lebanon
Abdo Romeo Abdo, the Lebanese businessman housing Minsk's elite

The happy new owner of MTBank, which he bought off oligarch Alexei Oleksin now under EU sanctions, has managed to elbow himself into Minsk's tight-knit elite business circle thanks to some powerful alliances.

Bulgaria
Sacked intelligence chief under US sanctions calls out Russian influence

On the interim government's advice, President Rumen Radev has made a string of dismissals as the country heads into the 11 July elections. Those sacked included top intelligence officers who are ready to denounce Russian influence in the country, along with political opposition led by former prime minister Boyko Borisov.

Spotlight | Ukraine
New Ukrainian underground special forces training centre out of commission due to flood

At a time when Kiev has been looking to modernise its defence arsenal and strengthen its military capacities to deal with the threat from its Eastern neighbour, a recently-rehabilited training site has been put out of action.

Germany, Russia, Ukraine
German groups in Crimea provide pathway between Berlin and Moscow

A surprising meeting between Crimean MPs and a mysterious German delegation sheds some light on the Russian networks in associations defending the interests of Crimea's German population.

Moldova, Russia
Pro-Russian faction and ex-FSB agents ramp up pressure on Chisinau

Making the most of the Chisinau government's instability, Moscow is taking steps ahead of the elections that could see its allies chased out of parliament and can count on its embedded political-security relays to help with the task.

Spotlight | Russia
Afinogenov serves as intermediary between Novatek, Total and Russian security services

Dmitry Afinogenov, an intermediary between the Kremlin and Novatek, the lead company on the Arctic Yamal project, was reupped as a member of the Russian National Security Council's scientific committee on 11 May.

Russia
Evgeni Primakov Jr renews Russian soft power as head of Rossotrudnichestvo

An influence tool and relay of Moscow's intelligence apparatus, the Rossotrudnichestvo, Moscow's cultural relations arm, is seeking new opportunities.

Russia
SVR continues to handle relations with Russia's close neighbours

Igor Maslov, who served in the SVR, was appointed to [...]