DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Russia reducing personnel at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - Ukrainian intelligence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) - Russia is gradually reducing the number of personnel at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southern Ukraine, Ukraine's military intelligence agency said on Friday. Kyiv accused Russia this month of planning a "terrorist" attack at the nuclear plant involving the release of radiation. GUR said that among the first to leave the nuclear power station were three employees of Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom who had been "in charge of the Russians' activities". Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of shelling the vast complex at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe's largest. Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, suffered the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986 at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

Persons: GUR, Rosatom, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Reuters, Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, Employees, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russians, Crimea, Enerhodar, Kyiv, Soviet Union

☆ Satellite images appear to show build-up at Wagner base in Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 29 (Reuters) - Satellite images of a military base southeast of the Belarus capital Minsk appear to show new facilities set up in recent days, suggesting the swift construction of a base for Wagner, the Russian mercenary company behind an abortive mutiny. Russian media have reported that Wagner, whose leader Yevgeny Prigozhin arrived in Belarus on Tuesday, could set up a new base at a vacant military facility near the town of Asipovichi, about 90 km (50 miles) from Minsk. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko invited Wagner to set up operations in his country as part of a deal that ended the mutiny on Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Wagner fighters were free either to move to Belarus, join the Russian military or go home, following the mutiny, which he said had threatened to bring civil war to Russia. Reporting by George Sargent and Milan Pavicic, Writing by Peter Graff, Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Prigozhin, George Sargent, Milan Pavicic, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Minsk ., Agency's, Reuters, ESA, Thomson Locations: Belarus, Minsk, Russian, Asipovichi, Tsel, Russia, Ukraine

☆ The Kremlin is purging the military in a search for traitors after the Wagner mutiny: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Kremlin is searching for traitors in the Russian military, a report said. It comes after the Wagner mercenary group launched a mutiny aimed at toppling military chiefs. The Kremlin believes the rebellion may've had broader military backing. According to Washington DC-based think tank The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a well-sourced Russian military blogger claimed that "large-scale purges" had been launched of Russian military commanders and that the Russian Ministry of Defence is currently undergoing a "crash test" for loyalty. Prigozhin claimed to have extensive backing for his mutiny among Russian military members, but wider backing for the rebellion did not materialize on Saturday.

Persons: Wagner, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Viktor Zolotov, Sergei Surovokin, Surovikin, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu Organizations: Kremlin, Service, Washington DC, Russian Ministry of Defence, Financial Times, Russian, New York Times Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Rostov, Moscow, Belarus

☆ Putin may have set a trap for Wagner fighters by letting them flee to Belarus, military experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Wagner fighters may not be safe in Belarus as it could be a trap after their uprising, the ISW said. The ISW said in an update on Monday that "Putin may be presenting Belarus as a haven for Wagner fighters as a trap." And if the Kremlin pressures Belarus, it said, "Belarus will not offer Prigozhin or Wagner fighters a true haven." The Wagner Group's short-lived uprising, which humiliated Putin and provided what experts said was the biggest threat during his decades in power, came after months of feuding between the Wagner Group and Russia's military brass. Russian media outlet Verstka reported that Belarus is constructing a base for around 8,000 Wagner fighters 124 miles from its border with Ukraine.

Persons: Wagner, Prigozhin, —, Vladimir Putin, ISW, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Ian Bremmer, he's, Alexander Lukashenko Organizations: Service, Washington DC, Wagner Group, Eurasia Group, CNBC, Wagner, Kremlin, Guardian Locations: Belarus, Kremlin, Rostov, Moscow, Russian, Minsk, Ukraine, Russia

Flightradar24 showed an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet appeared in Rostov region at 0232 GMT and began a descent at 0420 GMT near Minsk. The identification codes of the aircraft match those of a jet linked by the United States to Autolex Transport which is linked to Prigozhin by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control. Under a deal mediated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to halt a mutiny by Prigozhin's mercenary fighters, Prigozhin is meant to move to Belarus. Prigozhin, who has bragged about meddling in U.S. elections, said last week his fighting force was 25,000 strong. Speaking from the Kremlin on Monday, Putin vowed to stand by his promise to allow Wagner fighters to leave for Belarus, though he did not mention Prigozhin by name.

Persons: Putin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin's, Flightradar24, Dmitry Peskov, Flightradar, Alexander Lukashenko, WAGNER'S, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Russia's, Gleb Stolaryov, Guy Faulconbridge, Angus MacSwan, Jon Boyle Organizations: Belarus Russia, Prigozhin, Embraer, U.S . Office, Foreign Assets Control, Kremlin, Central African Republic, Federal Security Service, Thomson Locations: Belarus, Russia, Prigozhin MOSCOW, Prigozhin, Russian, Rostov, Minsk, United States, Belarusian, Africa, Central African, Mali, Ukraine, Kremlin

☆ Putin's embattled defense minister Shoigu appeared in a video released after the Wagner mutiny that experts say is confusing and feels off
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian defense chief Shoigu appeared in a video released after the Wagner Group's armed rebellion. Moscow published the video purportedly showing Shoigu in Ukraine, though its unclear when it was filmed. Some Russian milblogger channels have arrived at the same conclusion, that the video of Shoigu was older footage. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the notorious Wagner mercenary organization, has long criticized Moscow's military leadership over its handling of the war in Ukraine. Russia denied the allegations, but it didn't stop Prigozhin from openly encouraging his mercenaries to take up arms against the defense ministry in open rebellion.

Persons: Shoigu, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, —, Sergei Shoigu, General Yevgeny Nikiforov, Yevgeny Nikiforov's, Sergei Shoigu's, Jimmy Rushton, Mark Krutov, Yevgeny Nikiforov, I'm, Dara Massicot, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Valery Gerasimov, Russia's, Moscow's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Don, Stringer, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, he's, Antony Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Service, Russian Defense, Wagner Group, Russian Ministry of Defence, Twitter, Radio Free, Radio Liberty's, Russian Ministry of Defense, RAND Corporation, Prigozhin Press Service, Prigozhin Press, Associated Press, Don REUTERS, Stringer Western, ABC News, NATO, Ukraine Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty's Russia, Shoigu, Rostov, Don, Russia, Belarus, Ukrainian, Kyiv

☆ Turmoil in Russia: Reactions from foreign governments
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner." LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS"For 100 years Lithuanians have lived on the edge of Moscow's brutal banditocracy, knowing it's only a matter of time before the next chaotic implosion. CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER JAN LIPAVSKY"We are closely following the situation in the Russian Federation. ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER KAJA KALLAS"Estonia is closely following the development of the situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies. The instructions of Russian security authorities should be followed at all costs," it said in its updated travel advice.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, Wagner, JAMES, OANA, GABRIELIUS, it's, JAN LIPAVSKY, ANDRZEJ DUDA, Emmanuel Macron, GIORGIA, Meloni, Frances Kerry, Hugh Lawson Organizations: MINISTRY, Russian National Guard, Wagner Group, NATO, Ukraine, Russian Federation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Britain, Ukraine, Rostov, Voronezh Oblast, Moscow, EU, Estonia

☆ Take a look at the first images of Wagner mercenaries descending on strategic Russian city in an apparent armed rebellion against Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Wagner group troops descended on Rostov-on-Don in Russia in an apparent armed mutiny. Images show the armed fighters on armored vehicles in the streets of the strategic Russian city. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Wagner group's actions a "betrayal," and vowed to quell the mutiny. Videos on social media appear to show Wagner group soldiers descending on the strategic Rostov-on-Don on Saturday after the group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said that Russia's defense ministry "must be stopped." Take a look at the first images of the Wagner fighters descending on the city of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday.

Persons: Wagner, —, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Don, UK Ministry of Defence, Service, Russian Southern Military District Locations: Rostov, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine

"Those who destroyed our lads, who destroyed the lives of many tens of thousands of Russian soldiers, will be punished. He later said his men had been involved with clashes with regular army soldiers and had shot down a helicopter. The video showed him telling the generals: "We have arrived here, we want to receive the chief of the general staff and Shoigu. Army Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alekseyev - who was later to appear with Prigozhin in the video from Rostov-on-Don - issued a video appeal asking Prigozhin to reconsider his actions. An unverified video on a Telegram channel close to Wagner showed the purported scene of an air strike against Wagner forces.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Yulia Morozova, Moscow, Prigozhin, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Reuters Wagner, Shoigu, Dmitry Peskov, Sergei Sobyanin, Joe Biden, Putin's, Vladimir Alekseyev, Sergei Surovikin, Andrew Osborn, Kevin Liffey, Daniel Wallis, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Russian Defence, General Staff, Reuters, Don, Southern Military District, Prigozhin, Wagner, Moscow, Russian Federation, PMC, Private Military Company, Russian Ministry of Defence, Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Russian, St Petersburg, Moscow, Russia, Rostov, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Voronezh, Bakhmut, Washington , U.S, European Russia

☆ Russia has doubled its pens of trained dolphins near Ukraine to guard its ships from attack by enemy divers, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia has ramped up its trained dolphin force that protects its Black Sea fleet, UK intelligence said. Russia has been training dolphins in the Black Sea since the Cold War, according to the United States Naval Institute. The MOD also noted Russia's documented use of marine animals elsewhere, saying "Russia has trained animals for a range of missions." Russia's Black Sea fleet includes attack submarines and vessels with long-range strike capabilities and air defense missiles. Russia accused Ukraine of launching drone attacks on the fleet earlier this month, after Ukraine started its long-awaited counteroffensive.

Persons: — Organizations: British Ministry of Defence, Service, Russia, UK Ministry of Defence, MOD, Google, United States Naval Institute, Maxar Technologies, Naval News, US Navy, Washington Post Locations: Russia, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Crimea, Norway, Petersburg, Sweden, Iraq, Ukrainian, Ukraine's Kherson

☆ King Charles III rides on horseback in first official birthday parade
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —King Charles III revived a royal tradition by riding on horseback in the first Trooping the Colour of his reign, which marks the British sovereign’s official birthday. The traditional military spectacle on Saturday is a staple in the royal diary drawing huge crowds to central London. Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesA horse-drawn carriage carrying the Queen, the Princess of Wales and her children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - followed. The King's grandchildren, Princes George and Louis and their sister, Princess Charlotte, ride in a horse-drawn carriage to the parade ground. After the parade, the royal party will return to Buckingham Palace and watch an extended military flypast.

Persons: London CNN — King Charles III, Charles ’, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, British Sovereign, Henry Nicholls, Princess, Wales, Prince George , Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Bidisha Mamata, ”, King Charles, Princes George, Louis, Princess Charlotte, Alastair Grant, Queen Camilla, Richard Knighton Organizations: London CNN, Horse Guards, Welsh Guards, Blues and Royals, London Guards, Getty, Sovereign’s, Guards, Blues, Royals, CNN, Marines, RAF, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence, RAF Red Arrows, Air Staff, Air, Commonwealth, Honourable Artillery Company, of London’s Army Reserves Locations: London, Buckingham Palace, St James’s, British, AFP, King, Kensington, United Kingdom, Green

☆ Attack helicopters are giving Russia the edge in the skies over southern Ukraine, says UK intel
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UK Ministry of Defence said Russia's attack helicopters gave Putin's forces "a temporary advantage." Of all the Russian Air Force's attack helicopters, the Ka-52 is perhaps the most widely used. According to the latest UK Ministry of Defence briefing, Russian troops have reinforced its attack helicopter forces, allowing them to gain "a temporary advantage in southern Ukraine, especially with attack helicopters employing longer-range missiles against ground targets." Of all the Russian Air Force's attack helicopters, the Ka-52 is perhaps the most widely used. Featuring an unusual coaxial rotor design and a side-by-side crew seating arrangement, Insider reported that it has been on the frontline and involved in the thickest fighting more than any other Russian attack helicopter since Russia's attack began in February 2022.

Persons: —, h. Organizations: UK Ministry of Defence, Russian Air, Service, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine

☆ The Wagner boss is rejecting Putin's push for mercenaries to sign contracts with the Russian army, calling it 'the path of shame'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Wagner Group head Yevgeny Priogzhin rejected Vladimir Putin's push to have mercenaries sign contracts with the Russian army. Priogzhin has been a harsh critic of the Russian Military of Defense and Putin's handling of the war in Ukraine. That is why they will not sign the contracts," Priogzhin said, according to the UK's Ministry of Defense. On June 10, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that "volunteer formations" like Wagner Group fighters must sign official contracts with the Russian Army, the UK intel sources said. One expert described the relationship between the Russian army and the Wagner Group as "dysfunctional."

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Priogzhin, Vladimir Putin's, Priogzhin, —, Putin Organizations: Russian Military of Defense, Service, Group, Russian Army, UK's Ministry of Defense, Russian Ministry of Defense, Wagner Group, intel, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia

☆ China's efforts to catch up in global electronic spying race
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Greg Torode | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Aside from monitoring capabilities, a large, permanent presence on Cuba "is an important symbol, getting right under the noses of the U.S. and reflecting China's global ambitions", he said. In 2019, Reuters reported that China's military was running a space monitoring station in Argentina. Regional diplomats say that as China builds a global military intelligence network, it lacks a U.S.-style system of alliances and partnerships that can help discreet surveillance efforts. China's defence ministry declined to comment. "This trend is only going to grow alongside China's global reach," said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill.

Persons: Diego Garcia, Carl Thayer, China's, Antony Blinken, Alexander Neill, Greg Torode, Kirsty Needham, Laurie Chen, Gerry Doyle Organizations: People's Liberation Army, Australian Defence Force Academy of, Australian National University, PLA, Reuters, Defence, South China, International Institute for Strategic Studies, China, Support Force, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Cuba, Beijing, United States, U.S, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Guam, British, CUBA, Coast, Florida, Russia, Moscow, Argentina, CHINA, Hainan, South, Southeast Asia, London, Namibia, Pakistan, Kenya, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Angola, China's, Singapore, Sydney

☆ One of Ukraine's new, US-equipped 'Storm' brigades was spotted in the east
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Adrian Bonenberger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The fate of Ukraine's counter-offensive depends on how effective its brigades are in taking and holding territory. A June video showed Ukrainian armored vehicles driving across a field, targeted by artillery and mines. It claimed to prove that the Ukrainian counteroffensive for which so many had such high hopes was foundering. One of them confirmed that the unit engaged was, in fact, the unit that I had trained, reconnaissance soldiers with the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade. Training units at the squad and platoon level in urban movement, and close-quarters battle, or CQB, I had the impression some of them might be used to assault, instead of to reconnoiter.

Persons: Ukraine's, —, Adrian Bonenberger, Long, Bakhmut, It's, they're Organizations: Service, Mechanized Brigade, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, MoD, Twitter, Separate Mechanized Brigade Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Ukraine's, Ukraine, Bakhmut, reconnoiter, U.S

☆ Zelenskiy: Counteroffensive actions taking place in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," Zelenskiy said, listing Ukraine's top military brass by name. Russian forces, it said, "continue to suffer heavy losses which they are trying to conceal". Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi reported new gains near Bakhmut. SOME PROGRESS: BRITISH MINISTRY"In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defences. Ukrainian military analyst Oleksiy Hetman told NV Radio the events of recent days were only initial steps.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Zelenskiy, Justin Trudeau, Oleksander Syrskyi, Serhiy Cherevatyi, We're, We've, Cherevatyi, Ukraine's, Oleksiy, Tom Balmforth, Felix Hoske, Alex Richardson, Andrew Cawthorne, Mike Harrison, Ron Popeski, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Kremlin, Sporting, Canadian, Russia's Defence Ministry, Saturday, Ukrainian, Reuters, Britain's Ministry of Defence, Kyiv, Europe's, Radio, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Donetsk, Moscow, Bakhmut, Maryinka, Crimea, Ukrainian

☆ Reports of Russian casualties as they 'withdraw through their own minefields' driven back by Ukraine's counteroffensive, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reports of Russian casualties as they 'withdraw through their own minefields,' per UK intel. Military progress on both sides of the conflict has been mixed in the last two days, the UK MoD said. "In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defenses. In others, Ukrainian progress has been slower," Britain's MoD said in a statement. "Russian performance has been mixed: some units are likely conducting credible maneuver defense operations while others have pulled back in some disorder, amid increased reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields," the ministry added.

Persons: —, Mykhalchuk, Sam Fellman, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Insider's Ryan Pickrell Organizations: intel, MoD, Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, Russian Airforce, CNN, US, Mine Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Russian, Azov

☆ Ukraine's army reports new gains against Russian forces near Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, June 10 (Reuters) - Counterattacking Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 1,400 metres at a number of sections of the front line near the eastern city of Bakhmut in the past day, a military spokesman said on Saturday. The advance is the latest in a series of similar gains reported this week by Kyiv near Bakhmut, which Russia said it had fully captured last month after the bloodiest and longest battle since it began its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Serhiy Cherevaty, the official, said in televised comments that Russian forces were themselves trying to counterattack but that they had not been successful. Ukrainian forces, he said, had inflicted heavy Russian troop casualties and destroyed military hardware in the area. Britain's Ministry of Defence said that Ukrainian forces have penetrated the first line of Russian defences in some areas but that Kyiv's progress had been slower in others.

Persons: We're, we're, We've, Serhiy Cherevaty, Tom Balmforth, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, Kyiv, Britain's Ministry of Defence, Thomson Locations: Bakhmut, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, Kyiv, Ukraine, U.S, Ukraine's

☆ Zelenskiy guarded on Ukraine's counteroffensive, but says generals happy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, June 10 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukrainian counteroffensive operations were underway, but remained discreet on details beyond sending a message to the Kremlin that his top generals were in high spirits. Zelenskiy shrugged dismissively at a press conference in Kyiv when asked to comment after Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukrainian forces had certainly begun their much-vaunted counteroffensive. Britain's Ministry of Defence said Ukraine had conducted significant operations in several eastern and southern parts in the last 48 hours, with Russian defences breached in places. "In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defences. In others, Ukrainian progress has been slower," it said, characterising the Russian military's performance as mixed.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Justin Trudeau, Tom Balmforth, Felix Hoske, Alex Richardson, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Ukrainian, Kremlin, Canadian, Britain's Ministry of Defence, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Ukraine counteroffensive: Is Kyiv's operation underway south of Zaporizhzhia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Andrew Carey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The attacks had been repelled, Shoigu said, adding that Ukrainian forces had suffered significant losses of both soldiers and arms. The situation facing Russian forces was very serious, he said. Breaking Russia’s land-bridge to Crimea, by rolling back Russian forces to the Sea of Azov, is clearly a central military objective for Ukraine. Ukrainian troops fire a Caesar self-propelled howitzer towards Russian forces near the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. Viacheslav Ratynskyi/ReutersCNN cannot independently verify claims made by Russian officials or those of well-sourced Russian military bloggers.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Semyon Pegov –, ” –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Alexander Kots, Vladimir Rogov, ”, Caesar, Ratynskyi Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Russian Ministry of Defence, 47th Mechanized Brigade, Defense Ministry, Reuters CNN, Russian Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Nova, Zaporizhzhia, Moscow, Orikhiv, Tokmak, Russian, Crimea, Azov, Melitopol, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Ukrainian

[1/4] Residents of the Shebekinsky district of Russia's Belgorod region, who were evacuated following recent attacks on settlements near the Russia-Ukraine border in the course of a military conflict, visit a humanitarian aid distribution centre in Belgorod, Russia, June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSummary This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. The blasts - some distant, some uncomfortably close - have become a daily reality for Markevich and her neighbours in the Russian town of Razumnoye, a 35-minute drive from the border with Ukraine. So too has the occasional boom of Russian air defences directed against incoming missiles or drones. Her neighbour Natalia Cherkashina, 65, said that what once seemed like a faraway conflict was now very close to home.

Persons: Maxim, Irina Markevich, Markevich, Natalia Cherkashina, they're, Viktor Ignatyev, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Cherkashina, Mark Trevelyan, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shebekinsky, Russia's Belgorod, Russia, Ukraine, Belgorod, RAZUMNOYE, Russian, Razumnoye, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ Bombing of herders highlights deadly air attacks by Nigerian military
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +19 min

The letter said the Nigerian Air Force is committed to human rights and “further deliberations” on the issue, according to the report. “The absence of details raises the question of whether the air force carried out the air strike based on mere suspicion,” Human Rights Watch said. The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon had no immediate comment about the airstrike or the U.S. relationship with the Nigerian Air Force. Before now, neither the Nigerian government nor the military had provided any public explanation for what happened on Jan. 24. ACLED data show Nigerian Air Force strikes continued to claim the lives of noncombatants, inside and outside the northeast.

Persons: Ibrahim Muazu, “, ACLED, D.D, Pwajok, ”, Sara Jacobs, herdsmen, Oladayo Amao, Amao, “ miscreants, Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, Jan, Muazu, Lamido, Nigeria’s, Sanusi, Buhari, Rand Paul, Cory Booker, Rex Tillerson, Lai Mohammed, Jacobs, Jim Risch, Chris Smith, Antony Blinken, Biden, Risch, brazenly “, ” Abubakar Bello Rukubi, ” “, Yemi Osinbajo, cc’d, Samuel Ortom, herder, ” Muazu, Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis, Idrees Ali, Jarrett Renshaw, David Lewis, Reade Levinson, Simon Newman, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Julie Marquis, Alexandra Zavis Organizations: herder, Reuters, Air Force, Nigerian Air Force, Human Rights Watch, Air, Rights Watch, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Air, House Foreign Affairs, ” Reuters, ACLED, Planet Labs PBC, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, ”, Muazu, Congress, San Frontieres, Republican, Punch, UK, Nigeria –, Systems, U.S, Super, International, Development, Rights Initiative, Benue State Livestock Guards, Human Rights, Daily Trust, Nigeria’s Locations: Nigerian, Nasarawa, Akwanaja, United States, U.S, Nigeria, California, Kano, Rann, Cameroonian, Zamfara, “, Benue, ” Benue, London, Makurdi, Naka, Washington, Philadelphia

☆ Russian attempts to waste Ukraine's advanced air-defense missiles with cheap drones are failing, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The goal was to get Ukraine to waste its valuable stock of air defense missiles, the UK MOD said. But the efforts failed, with 90% shot down without Ukraine needing to use advanced missiles, it said. Russia's failure to get Ukraine to waste its advanced air defense missiles comes alongside Russia's inability to destroy Ukrainian air defence systems, the UK MOD added. Ukraine has a variety of air defense systems, including the advanced Patriot missile systems it received from the US and European allies. The UK MOD also said that Russia was likely trying to "locate and strike Ukrainian forces well behind the front line," but without much success.

Persons: — Organizations: MOD, Service, Russia, UK Ministry of Defence, Patriot Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ World's spy chiefs meet in secret conclave in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Senior officials from about two dozen of the world's major intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore this weekend, five people told Reuters. A spokesperson for the Singapore Ministry of Defence said that while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, "participants including senior officials from intelligence agencies also take the opportunity to meet their counterparts." The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operate what is called the Five Eyes network to gather and share a broad range of intelligence, and their intelligence officials meet frequently. Ukraine's deputy defence minister, Volodymr V. Havrylov, was at the Shangri-La Dialogue but said he did not attend the intelligence meeting. Haines was among the official U.S. delegates to the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Persons: National Intelligence Avril Haines, Samant Goel, Volodymr, Anthony Albanese, Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Haines, William Burns, Biden Organizations: Reuters, National Intelligence, Research, Singapore Ministry of Defence, U.S, Embassy, New Zealand, Australian, Defense, Chinese Defence, CIA Locations: Singapore, U.S, China, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New, Ukraine, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Beijing

SINGAPORE, June 4 (Reuters) - Senior officials from about two dozen of the world's major intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore this weekend, five people told Reuters. "Participants have found such meetings held on the sidelines of the (dialogue) beneficial." The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operate what is called the Five Eyes network to gather and share a broad range of intelligence, and their intelligence officials meet frequently. Ukraine's deputy defence minister, Volodymr V. Havrylov, was at the Shangri-La Dialogue but said he did not attend the intelligence meeting. Haines was among the official U.S. delegates to the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Persons: National Intelligence Avril Haines, Samant Goel, Volodymr, Anthony Albanese, Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Haines, William Burns, Biden, Xinghui Kok, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, National Intelligence, Research, Singapore Ministry of Defence, U.S, Embassy, New Zealand, Australian, Defense, Chinese Defence, CIA, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, U.S, China, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New, Ukraine, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Beijing

Search resuls for: "Ministry of Defence"

25 mentions found