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☆ Ukraine set off 4 explosive devices on a freight train operating on the only major railroad connecting Russia and China: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine targeted a freight train with four explosive devices, an unnamed source told CNN. It is the only major railroad connecting Russia and China for military supplies, per Russian media. "The explosion is yet another successful special operation by the SBU," the source told CNN. AdvertisementUkraine set off four explosive devices on a freight train operating on the only major railroad connecting Russia and China, CNN reported , citing an unnamed Ukrainian defense source. AdvertisementThe railway line, the source added, is the "only major railroad connection between Russia and China."

Persons: —, Sovetskaya Gavan Organizations: CNN, Service, Ukraine's Security Services, Siberian Travel Company, Trade, Kremlin, Telegraph, Politico Locations: Ukraine, Russia, China, Buryatia, Baikal, Amur, Russian, Tayshet, Sovetskaya, Itykit, Politico Europe

☆ Putin fears the wrath of soldiers' wives, as the Kremlin tries to buy-off potential protestors, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russian soldiers and their wives are becoming increasingly unhappy with long deployments without rotation. AdvertisementThe Kremlin is concerned that the disgruntled wives of conscripted soldiers unhappy with long deployments could become a significant political headache, reports say. The Kremlin believes that most wives are more concerned about the paycheck than their husbands returning from war, the outlet reported. The report comes after the wives of deployed soldiers held a rare public protest in Moscow on November 7. AdvertisementRecent requests by soldiers' wives to hold protests in Moscow and St Petersburg have been denied.

Persons: —, RkeSEZILBt — Slava, @Heroiam_Slava, doesn't, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ella Pamfilova Organizations: Service, UK Ministry of Defense, Russian, St, Levada Locations: Russian, Moscow, The, London, St Petersburg, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Ukraine

☆ Drug-abusing Russian soldiers get sent to fight with Storm Z assault forces as punishment, intel says, putting them on the front lines with convicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

UK intelligence said Russian commanders are likely punishing drug-abusing soldiers. The commanders are apparently tossing the soldiers in so-called "Storm Z assault detachments." A Russian news outlet previously reported that soldiers were getting hard drugs delivered to them on the front lines. One unnamed soldier told the independent Russian outlet at the time: "It's like in Las Vegas." The units these drug-using soldiers fight in are mostly made up of convicts and are thrown onto the frontlines, according to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War.

Persons: —, Verstka Organizations: Service, UK's Ministry of Defense, Institute for Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Las Vegas

☆ Video of Russia's latest Lancet drone striking a US Bradley IFV shows how the weapon has been adapted to evade Ukrainian defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's newest Lancet drones appear to have found a way to evade Ukrainian defenses. This means the warheads detonate some distance away, rather than on impact. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn advanced version of Russia's feared Lancet drone appears to have a new way to evade Ukrainian armored anti-tank grids and anti-drone nets. Russian forces posted a video of a Lancet drone striking a Ukrainian combat vehicle by exploding several feet away from the target. While the advancements will put some Ukrainian vehicles at risk, the best-protected vehicles should still be able to fend off the attacks, Forbes said.

Persons: —, Russia's, Forbes, Bradley IFV, Bradley, Ukraine's Air Force Yurii Ihnat, LIGA.net, Lancets Organizations: Service, Conflict Intelligence, Intelligence Team, Armed Forces, Ukraine's Air Force Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Donetsk, Ukraine

☆ A Russian TikToker known for pro-Ukraine posts collapsed on stage after getting called up to fight there
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian TikToker collapsed on stage after getting his summons to join the military, per the BBC. Xolidayboy was made to sign a draft letter upon landing in Russia, per Russian media. AdvertisementAdvertisementA TikTok star who posted pro-Ukraine videos collapsed on stage in Russia after receiving his summons to join the Russian military, according to the BBC . AdvertisementAdvertisementMinayev was made to sign a draft letter acknowledging receipt of the summons, according to Russian media company Ostorozhno . A day after Minayev's arrest, Mizulina said in a Telegram post the artist had been evading the army, citing Russian media.

Persons: Xolidayboy, Ekaterina Mizulina, —, Russian TikToker, Ivan Minayev, Minayev, didn't, Mizulina, reputational Organizations: Ukraine, Service, BBC, Internet League, Telegram, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Stavropol, Mineralnye, Crimea, Turkey, United Arab

☆ Protesting the Ukraine war is banned in Russia, so young people are sabotaging trains and railroad tracks instead: UK intel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Activists against Russia's war with Ukraine have been sabotaging railways, UK intel said. As protesting is criminalized in Russia, sabotage is appealing for young people, UK intel said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "Russia's military logistics, including supplying the war in Ukraine, remain reliant" on the country's more than 20,000 miles of railway line, the UK intelligence group said. Some of the railroad sabotage cases involved damage to tracks and arson, according to Mediazona.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin Organizations: intel, UK intel, Service, UK's Ministry of Defense, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, UK

☆ Ukraine appears to be gunning for a top Russian battlefield commander who has had an unusual run as a military leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine appears to be gunning for him as Kyiv's military makes pushes in his area of control. According to several prominent Russian military bloggers and independent Russian media reporting, the Ukrainian military fired long-range missiles last week at the Dnepr battlegroup's headquarters. Astra, the independent Russian publication, reported that Ukrainian missiles hit command posts belonging to the Dnepr group in Strilkove that same day. As the Russian military bloggers noted, the timing of the strikes fall in line with an uptick in Ukrainian assaults around the Dnipro. "Teplinsky's appointment is likely an indication of increased pressure on Russian forces defending the area," Britain's defense ministry said in late October.

Persons: Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, gunning, —, Moscow's, Rybar, ROMAN PILIPEY, Teplinsky —, Russia's ultranationalists, Vladimir Putin, Teplinsky, Oleg Makarevich Organizations: Service, Moscow's VDV Airborne Forces, Dnepr, Ukraine, Storm, Russian, Neptune, Telegram, Astra, Getty, Wagner Group, Kremlin ., Institute for, Ukrainian, Command, Special Operations Forces of, Armed Forces of, Facebook, Dnipro, Kyiv Locations: Russian, Col, Ukraine, Kherson, that's, Azov, Dnipro, Ukrainian, AFP, Teplinsky, Russia, Kremlin . Russian, Washington, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kherson Oblast

☆ Russian soldiers killed a Ukrainian family of 9 for refusing them moonshine liquor, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two Russian soldiers are being investigated for murdering a Ukrainian family. Reports say that they had a dispute over the soldiers demanding moonshine liquor. Throughout the conflict there have been multiple reports of Russian soldiers heavily consuming alcohol. AdvertisementAdvertisementTwo Russian soldiers are being investigated for killing a Ukrainian family, possibly in revenge for not giving them moonshine, according to reports. Throughout the conflict, there have been multiple reports of Russian soldiers heavily consuming alcohol and drugs.

Persons: —, Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov Organizations: Service, Russian Investigative, Russian Telegram, Chechen, Russian Army, Astra, Russian Investigative Committee, Russian, Separate Naval Infantry Brigade, for Locations: Ukrainian, Donetsk, Russian, Chechen, Russia, Ukraine, Chechnya, Russia's North Caucasus

☆ The Kremlin plans to raffle off houses and holidays to shore up support for Putin ahead of an election: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Kremlin is reportedly launching a nationwide raffle ahead of next year's presidential election. The project aims to support Putin amid Russia's challenges with Western sanctions, the report said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Kremlin plans to shore up support for Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of next year's election by launching a nationwide raffle, according to the independent Russian outlet Meduza. The prizes up for grabs include 300 trips across Russia and 30 housing certificates, which are vouchers that can exchanged for real estate, Meduza reported. Meduza reported that more than 400,000 people have already entered the raffle and that Russian news outlets and regional media have been instructed to promote the event.

Persons: Putin, —, Vladimir Putin, Meduza Organizations: Service, Russian, Kremlin, United, Levada Center, CNN, Freedom Locations: Russia, United Russia, US, Ukraine

☆ Misbehaving Russian troops were tossed in 'pits' at military training grounds for up to a week at a time, a deserted soldier says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

So-called "torture pits" were dug at Russian military training grounds to punish troops, a report said. A former soldier told Important Stories and the Conflict Intelligence Team that misbehaving troops were put in pits for up to a week. The investigative report, published on Tuesday, cites ex-trainees at the Prudboy military training camp in the Volgograd Oblast and the Totsky military training ground in the Orenburg Oblast. The former soldier told IStories and CIT that one recruit died at the training ground after he was put in a pit. The report said that Sergei not only left the Prudboy training ground, but also the country.

Persons: —, Sergei, IStories, Viktor Organizations: Conflict Intelligence, Service, Conflict Intelligence Team, CIT, UK's Ministry of Defense Locations: Volgograd Oblast, Orenburg Oblast, Russian, Prudboy

☆ Alsu Kurmasheva: Russian court extends detention of US journalist
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Darya Tarasova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —A Russian court has ordered US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to be held in detention until December 5 for failing to register as a foreign agent, according to her employer. Kurmasheva is employed by the Tatar-Bashkir service Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and is based in Prague, Czech Republic. According to her employer, Kurmasheva was detained on June 2 in the city of Kazan in Russia while waiting for a return flight to the Czech Republic. The date of her next court appearance is currently unknown, Matevosyan said, adding that Kurmasheva was also fined for failing to notify Russian authorities of her dual citizenship. Last month, a Moscow court refused to hear an appeal against his pre-trial detention.

Persons: Alsu Kurmasheva, Kurmasheva, Edgar Matevosyan, Matevosyan, Vladimir Putin, Evan Gershkovich Organizations: London CNN, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, RFE, Wall Street Locations: Russian, Radio Free Europe, Prague, Czech Republic, Kazan, Russia, US, Ukraine, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Moscow

☆ Russian soldiers are getting hard drugs delivered to their trenches in Ukraine to escape boredom, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Drug use is widespread in the Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, news outlet Verstka reported. One soldier told the outlet that drug use is "like in Las Vegas." AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian soldiers are getting hard drugs delivered to their trenches in Ukraine to escape boredom, according to the independent Russian news outlet Verstka. Mephedrone, amphetamines, and alpha-PVP, known as "salt", are among the substances that Russian soldiers on the frontline take, with effects including paranoia and hallucinations, the report said. "It's like in Las Vegas," one unnamed soldier told the outlet, according to a translation by The Times of London.

Persons: —, Verstka, Mick Ryan, Insider's Erin Snodgrass, it's, Ryan Organizations: Service, The Times, Royal United Service Institute, Australian Army Locations: Ukraine, Las Vegas, Russian, London, British

☆ A Russian air-defense system got wrecked after it fell off a bridge into the path of a moving train, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian air-defense system was hit by a train after falling off a bridge, per a Russian report. Russia has lost 32 Strela-10 air-defense systems in Ukraine since the start of the war, per Oryx. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian air-defense missile system was destroyed after it fell off a bridge into the path of a freight train, according to independent Russian media. AdvertisementAdvertisementInsider was unable to independently verify the report, which also described the air-defense system as a Strela-10 antiaircraft missile system belonging to the Russian Armed Forces. In mid-September, Ukrainian drones and missiles destroyed an advanced S-400 "Triumf" air-defense system worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Persons: —, Samuel Bendett Organizations: Service, Astra, Russian Armed Forces, Center for Naval Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Donetsk

☆ A wounded Russian soldier was denied compensation for his war injuries because he got blown up by his own comrades, not Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A court ruling against Khizri Kurazov, a corporal, says he was wounded by an accidental mine blast. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian corporal wounded in Ukraine has been denied standard compensation for his war injuries because they were inflicted by his own comrades instead of Ukrainian forces, court documents show. Kurazov, a contract soldier, was wounded in Ukraine by a mine accidentally detonated by fellow Russian personnel, according to the September 8 decision. Kurazov argued that the one-time payment to injured troops should be given to any Russian soldier wounded in Ukraine, including the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the filing said. He appealed the Nalchik Garrison military court's decision, bringing his case to the southern district military court in Rostov-on-Don in August.

Persons: Khizri Kurazov, he's, —, Kurazov, weren't, Garrison, Viktor Alekseevich Kostin, Dmitry Viktorovich Merkulov, Shuaipov —, Kurazov's, Aziz Magomedov Organizations: Service, Russian Guard, Garrison, Radio Free Liberty, Russia's Defense Ministry Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russia's, Russian, Donetsk, Luhansk, Rostov

☆ Russia pardoned a murderer who put his girlfriend through a meat grinder because he agreed to fight in Ukraine, his mom says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian murderer was pardoned after fighting against Ukraine with the Wagner group, his mom said. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian convicted murderer who was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he killed his girlfriend and put her body through a meat grinder has been pardoned after fighting against Ukraine, his mother said. The mother of Dmitry Zelensky told the Russian media news outlet 59.RU that her son was pardoned after serving less than half of his sentence. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to 59.RU, Zelensky told investigators during an interrogation that he dismembered her body, processed it in a meat grinder, collected the bones in three bags, and threw them into the river. However, a July report by the independent Russian outlet Verstka alleged that Russian authorities were covering up crimes being committed by pardoned men.

Persons: Wagner, —, Dmitry Zelensky, Tatiana Melekhina, Zelensky, Galina Zelenskaya, Zelenskaya, Zelensky's, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Ukraine, Service, RU, Wagner Group, Russian Ministry of Defence, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Russian, Chechen, Ukraine, Russia, Antratsit, Luhansk

☆ Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov released a video of his 15-year-old son beating up a prisoner, saying he's 'proud' of him for showing 'honor' and 'dignity'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Monday that he's "proud" of his son for beating a prisoner. He published a video of Adam Kadyrov, 15, punching, kicking, and slapping a cowering man. Kadyrov published a video of the beatdown on Telegram, writing that he was "proud" of his son's actions. "He beat him, and he did the right thing," Kadyrov wrote, per a translation by Reuters. In his commentary, Kadyrov said the attacker was his 15-year-old son, Adam Kadyrov, and that the teenager had attained "adult ideals of honor, dignity, and defense of his religion."

Persons: Ramzan Kadyrov, Adam Kadyrov, —, Islam, Kadyrov, Nikita Zhuravel, Zhuravel, Tatyana Moskalkova, Kadyrov's, Moskalkova, Adam Delimkhanov, Delimkhanov Organizations: Service, Reuters, Moscow Times, United States Commission, International, Human, Zhuravel, Chechen Locations: Volgograd, Chechen Republic, Chechnya, Ukraine, Russia

☆ A former guard at one of Putin's luxury palaces said it's like a toxic 'little town' where everyone is snitching on each other
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of Putin's former palace guards has spoken out about working to protect him in Crimea. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut the luxury of the Olivye palace compound, compared to ordinary Russian lives, also disgusted Brizhaty, he now says. AdvertisementAdvertisementBrizhaty's job was to help make security arrangements for Putin's arrival at the palace, or around Crimea. The arrival of "Number One" in Crimea demonstrated how little Putin trusts his own security service. Forced to protect a warmongerThat culture was a particular problem for Brizhaty when Putin's tanks rolled across Ukraine's borders.

Persons: Vitaly Brizhaty, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, Brizhaty, Alexei Navalny, — Organizations: Service, Federal Protective Service, FSO Locations: Crimea, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russia, Olivye, Soviet, Russian, Ecuador

☆ Injured Russian soldiers are being sent back to the front line without being treated amid manpower and ammunition shortages, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Injured Russian soldiers are being sent back to the front lines without treatment, a report says. One soldier's mother reportedly said that they were being treated "like cows at a slaughterhouse." Russia appears to be suffering from manpower shortages as Ukraine's counteroffensive continues. The claims come amid further reports about Russia's mounting losses and ammunition shortages as Ukraine continues its counteroffensive. A recent investigative report by independent Russian outlets said that the average time for a mobilized Russian troop to die in Ukraine was just four-and-a-half months.

Persons: Irina, Nikolai, Ekaterina Bogdanova, Kostya, Bogdanova, —, Anton Gerashchenko Organizations: Service, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Guards, Rifle Brigade, Internal Affairs of Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Radio Free Europe, Russian, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia, Internal Affairs of Ukraine

☆ The average amount of time it takes for a Russian mobilized soldier to die in Ukraine is 4 and a half months: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russian draftees killed in the war lasted an average four and a half months, per a new report. It used open source data on the deaths of 3,000 mobilized troops over the past year. AdvertisementAdvertisementConflict Intelligence Team analysts said the varying intensity of the fighting over different months heavily influenced the life expectancy of mobilized troops. Mobilized troops have repeatedly reported being sent to the front lines as cannon fodder or abandoned by their commanders. Almost 500,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the war, US officials said in August.

Persons: —, Igor, Dmitry Dadanov, Igor Dadanov, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Conflict, Kremlin, The New York Times, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Nagorno-Karabakh crisis lays bare deteriorating Armenian relationship with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Clare Sebastian Anna Chernova Katharina Krebs Tim Lister Christian Edwards | Clare Sebastian | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh has come amid a sharp deterioration in the relationship between historic allies Armenia and Russia, and has been amplified by sometimes incendiary commentary from prominent individuals in Moscow. Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to protect Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijani aggression, according to state media Armenpress. The prominent Russian military blogger Rybar said Armenia was over reliant on Russia to provide security for Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia purports to provide security to Armenia through the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance of post-Soviet states that includes Armenia but excludes Azerbaijan. The Armenian authorities handed over the Armenian shrine with their own hands… The fate of Judas is unenviable.”Simonyan also wrote on Telegram about protests in Yerevan.

Persons: Nikol Pashinyan, Pashinyan, Armenia’s, Armen Grigoryan, Dmitry Peskov, Pashinyan’s, Anna Hakobyan, ” Pashinyan, Dmitry Medvedev, “, ”, ” Medvedev, Rybar, –, ” Rybar, Margarita Simonyan, Judas, ” Simonyan, ’ They’ve, Vladimir Solovyov, Lavrov, Putin, Ivan, ” Solovyov, Meduza Organizations: CNN, Armenian, Armenia’s Security, Kremlin, CNN Prima News, Russia, NATO, Collective Security, Organization, Twitter Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Armenia, Russia, Moscow, Yerevan, United States, Ukraine, Kyiv, “, Azerbaijan, Russian, Soviet

☆ Russia sent troops into battle armed with little more than shovels against Ukraine's cluster munitions, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian soldier claimed that his regiment was being sent into hopeless fights, per independent media. His account suggests a desperate fight in the village of Andriivka, which Ukraine recently retook. AdvertisementAdvertisementLast Thursday, video appeared to show Ukrainian troops retaking Andriivka, which Russia quickly denied. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen troops are sent in, there is barely any supporting fire from artillery because they have hardly any rounds, Ivanov told Svoboda. Vera, the wife, suggested that Russian troops had been ordered to fire on their compatriots if they retreated.

Persons: Bakhmut, Denis Ivanov, Svoboda, —, Vera —, Andriivka, Ivanov, Vera Organizations: Service, Andriivka, for, Associated Press Locations: Russian, Andriivka, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Bakhmut, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Apple informs journalists Russia is targeting them with Pegasus spyware
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia appears to be targeting journalists with spyware known as Pegasus. Pegasus is a "zero-click" software, hacking phones by sending texts that don't need to be opened. Tech and privacy experts later revealed that Timchenko, leader of independent media outlet Meduza, had been targeted by the "zero-click" spyware Pegasus, The New York Times reported. Several other journalists affiliated with independent Russian media outlets reported receiving similar warnings from Apple on Thursday, according to the Times. Later that same year, a report revealed several US State Department employees living in or focusing on Uganda had also been hacked by the software, Insider reported.

Persons: Galina Timchenko, Timchenko, — Yevegny Erlich —, Pegasus — Organizations: Service, Apple, Tech, New York Times, Pegasus, Times, Amnesty International, NSO, US State Department Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Uganda

REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - A leading Russian journalist has had her phone compromised using Israeli spyware, researchers said Wednesday, the latest sign that phone hacking tools are being used to spy on media workers and opposition figures worldwide. A joint investigation by Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab and digital rights group Access Now found that the phone of Galina Timchenko had been infected using spyware built by the Israeli company NSO Group. Timchenko - the co-founder and publisher of independent Russian news outlet Meduza - was in Berlin at the time of the hack, the researchers said. Media defense groups condemned the alleged surveillance, with the Committee to Protect Journalists saying "journalists and their sources are not free and safe if they are spied on." Researchers, lawmakers and journalists have repeatedly accused NSO of helping governments spy on political opponents and undermine independent reporting.

Persons: Galina Timchenko, Tatyana Makeyeva, Timchenko, Meduza, Raphael Satter, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Canadian, Lab, NSO Group, Media, Protect Journalists, U.S, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russian, Berlin, Latvia, Ukraine

☆ Putin is so paranoid that he has armed divers swimming around his private beach looking for assassins, an ex-security officer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin is so paranoid that he will be killed, an ex-security officer said per reports. The ex-member of Putin's protection service reportedly said Putin has armed divers looking for would-be assassins. "This is how much he fears for his life," Vitaly Brizhaty told Russian outlet TV Rain, according to a report. The ex-security officer said that he was a dog handler for the FSO and stationed at one of Putin's secret properties in Crimea, according to the news outlet. "People were told, 'he's resting at the dacha' and everybody is running around guarding him, but he could be in another place altogether," Brizhaty told TV Rain, according to The Telegraph.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Vitaly Brizhaty, Brizhaty —, —, Brizhaty Organizations: Service, The Telegraph, Federal Protection Service, Radio Free, FSO Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ecuador, Kremlin, Ukraine, Russian, Crimea

☆ Putin doesn't even trust his own bodyguards and gives them fake travel plans, says former guard who defected
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Vitaly Brizhaty, a former member of Putin's protection service, says the Russian leader "fears for his life." Putin makes multiple fake travel plans to keep even his own officers in the dark, he said. Brizhaty, who fled to Ecuador, said Putin is a war criminal and condemned the invasion of Ukraine. FSO staff are also cut off from communicating with anyone in the EU, the US, or Ukrainian relatives, as well as anyone who opposes the war, Brizhaty said. Brizhaty was reported as decrying the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying Putin is a war criminal.

Persons: Vitaly Brizhaty, Putin, Brizhaty, Vladimir Putin's, Gleb Karakulov, Karakulov, — Organizations: Service, Federal Protection Service, FSO, Radio Free, Center Locations: Ecuador, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Crimea, Radio Free Europe, Oliva, EU, Russia

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