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☆ 2 Chinese banks ditched their Russian clients, report says, hinting at cracks in the Putin-Xi bromance
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTwo Chinese state-owned banks are severing ties with Russian clients to comply with sanctions by the West over the Ukraine war, Bloomberg reported. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementAccording to Bloomberg, the Chinese banks have previously complied with US sanctions levied on Iran and North Korea. According to Bloomberg, Chinese banks have extended credit worth billons of dollars to Russia since the invasion almost two years ago. The US has imposed other sets of sanctions aimed at closing loopholes and punishing companies that do business with sanctioned Russians.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Service, West, Bloomberg, Business, China's, US, Kremlin, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Iran, North Korea, China

☆ Sanctioned Western tech is still entering Russia and powering its military machine, new analysis shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is still obtaining large volumes of Western technology critical to its war in Ukraine, even as sanctions show some sign of taking hold, new analysis shows. Moscow imported more than $22 billion worth of critical components between January and October 2023, Russian trade data shows. Over the same period, it also imported almost $9 billion worth of "high-priority" battlefield components, which Western authorities have specifically sanctioned. The report's authors said the data suggests that some export controls are working, and that Russia has been unable to find reliable substitutes for many Western components. Zelenskyy did not provide evidence for his assertion, and Russia has separately said that its production of military equipment has stepped up.

Persons: —, Russia —, Bilousova, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: United Arab, KSE Institute, Russia, CNBC Locations: Russia, Ukraine, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Western, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Moscow

☆ A dozen Russian marines were killed when an RPG shell rolled into a fire they'd lit beside a pile of ammo and exploded, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian soldiers died after lighting a fire beside a pile of ammunition, per Russian outlet 161.ru. An RPG-7 grenade launcher shell rolled into the fire and exploded, killing at least 12, it said. AdvertisementAt least 12 Russian marines were killed when an RPG shell rolled into the fire they had lit beside a pile of ammunition, a source told Russian news outlet 161.ru. Three sources in Russia's military, law enforcement, and investigative agencies told the outlet about the incident, it said. An RPG-7 grenade launcher shell then rolled into the fire and exploded, the source told 161.

Persons: — Organizations: Service Locations: Russia, Vladivostok, Ukrainian

☆ Russia's navy could be open to a sea-drone attack after a huge storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A big storm over occupied Crimea damaged Russia's naval defenses there, a report said. Satellite images showed damage to booms and barges meant to defend from sea drones. AdvertisementSevastopol is Russia's main naval base in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula it has occupied since 2014. UK intelligence officials also said last month that Russia had moved some naval operations away from Crimea as Ukraine continued its attacks. AdvertisementUkraine has also been using sea drones to target the fleet, including an attack earlier this month which Ukraine said hit two Russian vessels.

Persons: —, Basil Germond, Insider's Mia Jankowicz Organizations: Service, Planet Labs, Reuters, Ukraine ramped, Lancaster University, Elite Ukrainian Locations: Crimea, Ukraine, Sevastopol, Russia

☆ Kremlin tries to stifle war bloggers' 'hysteria' over Ukrainian offensives in Dnipro, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

However, Russian military bloggers said they're failing, per the Institute for the Study of War. AdvertisementThe Kremlin is struggling to stamp out Russian military bloggers' "hysteria" around Ukrainian offensives in the Dnipro River, according to war analysts. Shoigu's speech is likely intended to play down Russian military bloggers' fears about Russia's struggles on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, the Institute said. On Monday, a Russian milblogger called Two Majors on Telegram, posted a letter allegedly written by a Russian soldier. It said the lack of drones in the area meant Russian forces were moving more slowly and exposed them to Ukrainian strikes.

Persons: —, Sergei Shoigu, Russia's, Vladimir Putin, OGPU, Krynky, Serhiy Bratchuk, Ukraine's Espreso, Natalia Gumenyuk, Andriy Yermak, Su Organizations: for, Service, Institute, Novosti, Telegram, 1st Battalion, 35th Motorized Rifle Brigade, Ukrainian, Odesa's, Administration, AFP Locations: Dnipro, Kherson, Ukraine, Krynky, Censor.Net, Russian, Crimea, Russia, Donetsk

☆ Ukraine says it has pushed Russian forces back up to 5 miles from the banks of Dnipro river, in first possible counteroffensive success
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian and Ukrainian foces have been battling on the banks of the Dnipro river. A Ukrainian official said Russian forces had been pushed back around 3 to 5 miles. AdvertisementUkraine said it had pushed Russian forces back three to eight kilometers, or around 3 to 5 miles, from the banks of the Dnipro river, which, if confirmed, would be a major breakthrough in Ukraine's lagging counteroffensive. Ukrainian and Russian forces have been positioned on opposite sides of the river in Kherson after Russia retreated from the region's western part last year. "We need to be realistic about what can be achieved here," Franz-Stefan Gady, a military analyst who recently visited the front lines in Ukraine, told the WSJ.

Persons: —, Natalia Gumenyuk, Gumenyuk, Vladimir Saldo, Oleksandr Kovalenko, Franz, Stefan Gady Organizations: Russian, Service, AFP, Reuters, Wall Street Journal Locations: Ukrainian, Dnipro, Ukraine, Russian, Kherson, Russia, Moscow

☆ A Russian official said soldiers are dying in large numbers, but he'll get in trouble if he doesn't send more to fight, leaked video shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A leaked video clip shows a Russian official saying troops are dying in droves in Ukraine. But Alexander Avdonin said he would get in trouble if he didn't send more, per Russian media. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA Russian official said that soldiers were dying in large numbers in Ukraine but that he could get in trouble if he didn't send more men to fight, according to Russian news outlet Siberia Realities . About 120,000 Russian soldiers have died since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, US officials told The New York Times in August.

Persons: Alexander Avdonin, —, Avdonin, Dmitry Medvedev Organizations: Moscow Times, Service, Yakutia Foundation, Telegram, Eastern Military District, Russia's Security, Free Yakutia Foundation, UK Ministry of Defence, New York Times Locations: Ukraine, Siberia, Russia's, Republic, Sakha, Russia

"I stressed that companies must not provide material support to Russia's defense industrial sector and that they will face significant consequences if they do," Yellen told reporters at a news conference in San Francisco. "We are determined to do all that we can to stem this flow of material that aids Russia in conducting this brutal and illegal war," Yellen said, warning that any companies aiding Moscow's war effort could face sanctions. "We would like to see China crack down on this, especially when we're able to provide information," she said. Yellen stressed the Chinese firms in question were private and said she was not suggesting that this was occurring with knowledge of the Chinese government. Reporting by David Lawder and Ann Saphir, writing by Andrea Shalal and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Lifeng, Carlos Barria, Yellen, David Lawder, Ann Saphir, Andrea Shalal, Alistair Bell Organizations: . Treasury, APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, San Francisco , California, China, Moscow, San Francisco, Russia

☆ Ukraine said it hit 2 Russian vessels with sea drones, as it continues to hammer Russia's Black Sea Fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian intelligence said it damaged 2 Russian landing ships in Crimea. Ukraine has been targeting Russian ships in the Black Sea, forcing Russia to move some further away. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkrainian intelligence said the country hit two Russian landing ships off the coast of occupied Crimea with sea drones, showing how Ukraine has continued to attack Russia's navy in the Black Sea. Ukraine has been escalating its attacks on Russia's ships in Crimea, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, in recent months. These attacks include firing cruise missiles against a Russian naval shipyard and at the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet.

Persons: —, GUR, Serna Organizations: Service, Directorate of Intelligence, Intelligence, Kyiv Post, Black, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Crimea, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Chornomorske, Crimean, Russian, Crimea's Sevastopol

☆ Russian naval ships struck by exploding drone boats in the night sank to the bottom of the Black Sea, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine says its sea drones hit and sank two Russian Black Sea Fleet landing ships. Ukraine has relied on its fleet of explosive drone boats to trouble Russian ships in the Black Sea. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's explosive sea drones have struck again, and this time, Kyiv says they struck and sank two ships belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF). The hit has again raised questions about Russia's ability to protect its Black Sea Fleet from Ukraine. Elsewhere in the Black Sea this week, a Russian anti-radar missile slammed into a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, killing one person and injuring four more.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Fleet, Defense Ministry, Sig, Security Service, Ukraine Telegram, Russian, Institute for, Liberian Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Kyiv, Russian, Crimean, Novorossiysk, Kerch, Russia, Ukrainian, Washington, Moscow

☆ Yellen and China's He to 'intensify communication' after pre-APEC meetings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Janet Yellen, US Treasury secretary, and He Lifeng, China's vice premier, during a meeting in San Francisco, California, US, on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng agreed to "intensify communication" and work together on a range of economic, financial stability and regulatory issues, Treasury said on Friday. "During the meetings, Secretary Yellen emphasized the importance that both countries responsibly manage the bilateral economic relationship, including maintaining resilient communication channels," Treasury said. Yellen and He exchanged their views on domestic and global macroeconomic and financial developments, it said, noting that Yellen acknowledged "significant headwinds and risks to the global economy." They also discussed the Israel-Hamas war, and Yellen spoke about the need "to prevent escalation and expansion of the conflict in the Middle East," Treasury said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Lifeng, Yellen Organizations: Treasury, ., Economic Cooperation, International Monetary Fund Locations: San Francisco , California, China, U.S, San Francisco, Asia, Russia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Video shows the moment a new Russian submarine test-fired an intercontinental-range 'Bulava' missile
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Video footage shows the moment a new Russian submarine test-fired an intercontinental-range ballistic missile. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's new strategic nuclear submarine has successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, it's defense ministry said, releasing video footage it said was from the test. The test involved the firing of an intercontinental-range Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and was a significant step for the vessel. Video footage from the defense ministry that was shared by Russian state media outlets on Sunday showed what they said was the newest Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Imperator Alexander III launching an RSM-56 Bulava ballistic missile. Russian nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy (NATO reporting name: SSBN "Borei", or "Dolgorukiy") is seen during the Navy Day Military parade July, 27, 2014, in Severomorsk.

Persons: —, Alexander III, Imperator Alexander III, it'll, Generalissimus Suvorov, Yuri Dolgorukiy, Sasha Mordovets, Bulava SLBMs Organizations: Service, RSM, Missile, Navy, Russia's, Russian Locations: Russian, Russia, Kamchatka, Severomorsk, Soviet Union, Europe, Atlantic

☆ Russia's bloody fight for a ruined Ukrainian town has been a mess, and its forces are getting slaughtered, milbloggers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

They have made progress, largely surrounding Ukrainian defenses, but at a high cost of troops and resources. And while conventional Russian forces in the Army have reinforced since the fighting began, that has not decisively improved the situation. A bird's-eye view of the destroyed buildings of the city of Avdiivka on October 26, 2023 in Avdiivka, Ukraine. The map showed Russian forces surrounding Avdiivka on three fronts, threatening to eventually surround a pocket of Ukrainian forces in the area. Although Ukrainian troops have dug deep defenses, they've also taken heavy losses in the fighting.

Persons: —, George Barros, Kostya, Russia hasn't, ISW, they've, Avdiivka, Barros Organizations: Service, Russia, Reuters, Institute for, Donetsk Peoples Republic, 1st Army Corps, Army Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Russia, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Russian, Washington ,, Zaporizhzhia, Moscow, Bakhmut

☆ Russia says it shot down 36 Ukrainian drones as fighting grinds on in Ukraine’s east
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A satellite image shows smoke billowing from Russian Black Sea navy headquarters after a missile strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Sept. 22, 2023. Russian air defense shot down over 30 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula overnight Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday. "The air defense systems in place destroyed 36 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Black Sea and the northwestern part of the Crimean peninsula," the ministry wrote on Telegram. Local authorities in the southern Krasnodar region bordering the Black Sea said that a fire broke out at an oil refinery in the early hours of Sunday, but did not specify the cause. In Ukraine, the country's air force said Sunday it had shot down five Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones launched by Russia overnight.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Volodin, Volodin, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Russia's Defense, Telegram . Local, Russia, Russian, UK Ministry, European Union, State Duma, European, Russian Federation Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Sevastopol, Crimea, Crimean, Krasnodar, Moscow, Siversk, Donetsk province, British, Russia, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Kyiv, Belgium, Europe

☆ Putin's new nuclear-powered cruise missile, one of his so-called 'super weapons,' is unnecessary but not totally useless, nuclear weapons expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

If it works, the weapon's utility is debatable, and a nuclear weapons expert said it's likely for political show. The weapon isn't much of an addition beyond the nuclear strike options Russia already has in its arsenal, a nuclear weapons expert told Insider. Will it have "the ability to bypass interception lines" and be "invulnerable to all existing and future missile defense and air defense systems" as he has claimed? The missile, essentially a very-long range cruise missile, can't be intercepted by missile defense systems that are designed to counter ICBMs, meaning it could theoretically penetrate key enemy air defenses to strike its target. The agreement was designed to limit the use anti-ballistic missile systems intended to defend against nuclear attacks.

Persons: Putin, it's, —, Vladimir Putin, Pavel Podvig, Podvig, haven't, George W, Bush, Sergei Karpukhin Organizations: Service, RIA Novosti, Ministry of Defense, Russian, Russian Navy, US, Technology, Ballistic, National Missile Defense, Putin Locations: Russia, Moscow, Russian, Sochi, Ukraine, Avdiivka, Crimea

☆ Russia's economy is headed into the 'snare of perpetual war' as the Kremlin plans record-high military spending for 2024, think tank says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's economy is in for the "snare of perpetual war," the Carnegie Endowment said. But spending even more on the military could set up the economy for high inflation and a deteriorating quality of life. "The record defense spending shows that the Kremlin has no intention of ending its war against Ukraine anytime soon: on the contrary. "By staking everything on rising military expenditure, the Kremlin is forcing the economy into the snare of perpetual war." Other experts have warned of trouble brewing ahead for Russia's economy as war continues to rage in Ukraine.

Persons: — Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, Kremlin, Service, Ukraine –, International, Atlantic Council Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ Here's the 'experimental' sea drone, called the 'Sea Baby,' that Ukraine claims has carried almost 1,900 pounds of explosives and has been attacking Russia's Black Sea Fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine intelligence officials claim that an experimental sea drone hit two Russian military ships. The drone has been dubbed the "Sea Baby," an invention of Ukraine's security services. The drone is called the "Sea Baby," which officials in Ukraine have now claimed is behind at least three covert drone operations against Russia. AdvertisementAdvertisementAround mid-September Ukrainian sources said that the sea drone attacked a small Russian missile ship that was part of the Black Sea Fleet. The other sea drone that Ukraine developed, with a 300-kg payload, can hit targets 500 miles away, CNN reported.

Persons: —, Vasyl Maliuk, Maliuk Organizations: Service, The Washington Post, Russia, Security Service, CNN, Black, Russia's, Baby Security, Reuters, Security Service of Ukraine, New Voice, New York Times, Ammo Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Kerch, Russian, Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian

☆ Russia can gain from Middle East turmoil — but it could backfire if the war spirals out of control
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Putin likely wanted to show that Moscow is still important in the Middle East by visiting Iran, said John Drennan of the U.S. Institute of Peace. It could present an opportunity for them but also could present a very, very disastrous outcome for their influence in the Middle East too if the conflict spirals out of control," Ramani said. Analysts also believe Russia will use the war in Israel and Gaza to sow disinformation about Ukraine and discord among its allies. As such, the war between Israel and Hamas also provides Russia with an opportunity to flex its diplomatic muscles in the Middle East, after something of a hiatus from the global stage. So this shows that Russia is not isolated in the Middle East, and Russia still maintains the same array of diplomatic partnerships that it had before the war," he noted.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Ebrahim Raisi, Putin, John Drennan, Sergei Savostyanov, Samuel Ramani, Ramani, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Jim Watson, Volodymy Zelenskyy, Sergei Karpukhin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maxim Shemetov, They've, they've, Bashar al, Assad Organizations: Getty, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S . Institute of Peace, AFP, Royal United Services Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Ukraine, Analysts, White, U.S, Congress, NATO, Afp, International Energy Agency, Russia, Israeli, Iraqi Locations: Sochi, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Moscow, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Europe, Washington ,, Brussels, Russian, OPEC, Turkey, Egypt, Tehran

☆ Drone Attack Near Moscow Thwarted by Russian Defence Forces TASS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russian air defence forces took down a Ukrainian drone near Moscow early on Saturday that appeared to cause no damage or injuries, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. The attack, repelled over the Istra district northwest of the capital, was an attempt by Ukraine to attack Russian facilities, TASS reported, citing Russia's Defense Ministry. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said preliminary reports showed no casualties or damage but that "emergencies services are working at the scene," TASS said, citing his channel on the Telegram messaging app. The reported attack on Russia follows Russian air strikes on Ukraine on Friday that Ukrainian officials said killed a 10-year-old boy and his grandmother in Kharkiv and damaged grain and port infrastructure in the Odesa region. A day earlier, Ukrainian officials said dozens were killed in the village of Hroza in northeastern Ukraine during a gathering to mourn a fallen Ukrainian soldier.

Persons: Sergei Sobyanin, Rishabh, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, TASS, Russia's, Ministry, Moscow, Moscow's Locations: Ukrainian, Moscow, Russian, Istra, Ukraine, Russia, Kharkiv, Odesa, Hroza, Bengaluru

☆ 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

☆ Russian soldiers who drink and break rules get sent to punishment battalions where they are likely to die fighting, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

These "Storm Z" units have been sent to where the heaviest fighting is. AdvertisementAdvertisementReuters interviewed 13 people as part of the investigation, five of whom were Storm Z fighters. Reuters found that soldiers are sent to Storm Z for being drunk on duty, for using drugs, or for refusing to carry out orders. Relatives of a missing Storm soldier fighting in Ukraine told Reuters that Russia's Defense Ministry never responded when they asked where he was. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the summer, some Storm fighters said in a video that they refused to carry out combat missions due to their treatment.

Persons: —, Storm, Storm Z, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Serhii, we've Organizations: Reuters, Service, Storm, Wagner Group, Russian Ministry of Defence, The, Pravda, Russia's Defense, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russian, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ 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

☆ Putin is offering double pay to attract officials to jobs in occupied Ukraine, but many are scared of being killed: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Meduza cited two officials who described fears of new Ukrainian attacks among Russian officials. Russian officials have died in Ukraine's counteroffensives in the occupied regions, the outlet said. But higher pay does not make up for the risk of Ukrainian attacks, the two unnamed officials told Meduza. An unspecified number of Russian officials, including Alexei Katerinichev, a Russian-installed official in Kherson, have also been killed, per the outlet. Russia's Defense Ministry also announced last month that people in the four occupied regions will be included for the first time in its conscription campaign.

Persons: Meduza, —, Vladimir Putin, Alexei Katerinichev Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Russia's Defense Ministry Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine's counteroffensives, Russian, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Russia is highly likely using an amphibious plane from the 1960s to hunt for a new threat to its Black Sea Fleet, Western intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has battered Russia's Black Sea Fleet with cruise missile strikes and sea drone attacks. To deal with the new sea drone threat, Russia is increasing its maritime air patrol operations. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia is highly likely relying on a decades-old amphibious plane to seek out a dangerous Ukrainian threat to its Black Sea Fleet, according to Western intelligence. This includes cruise missile strikes on a key shipyard and the fleet's headquarters and attacks with uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) — or sea drones — on Russian ships. It remains to be seen if the Be-12 makes a difference in curbing the threat of Ukraine's sea drones.

Persons: —, Michal Fludra, sonobuoys Organizations: Fleet, Service, Kyiv, Black, Sig, Naval Aviation, Aviation, Getty, Kacha Air Base Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Crimean, Kyiv, Novorossiysk, Russian, Kerch, Moscow, Crimea, Kaliningrad, Soviet, Sevastopol, Black

☆ Putin's pick to lead the Wagner Group is likely considered a 'traitor' by his own men, UK says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The new head of Wagner is likely seen as a "traitor" by his men, per a UK intelligence assessment. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian President Vladimir Putin has picked someone to lead the powerful Wagner paramilitary group who is likely viewed as a "traitor" by his own men, according to a British military intelligence assessment published Saturday. A Kremlin spokesperson later described Troshev, a veteran of Wagner operations in Syria, as an employee of Russia's defense ministry. As a result, "Many Wagner veterans likely consider him a traitor," stated the Sept. 30 assessment. And that future, it continued — in contrast with the Prigozhin days — will likely entail "greater oversight from the Kremlin."

Persons: Wagner, Andrei Troshev, Vladimir Putin, —, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, iva, ann Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine –, Defence Locations: Ukraine, Syria, osh

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