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☆ Sweden increasingly a focus for Islamic extremists, security police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Houthi supporters rally to denounce the burning of a copy of the holy Koran during Sweden protests, in Sanaa, Yemen January 23, 2023. "Recent developments with threats targeted at Sweden and Swedish interests are serious and affect Sweden's security," the Swedish Security Service SAPO said in a statement. "The developments mean that Sweden is deemed to be in greater focus than previously for violent Islamic extremists globally." SAPO said it had not raised its formal assessment of the threat level against the country, which is at 3 on a scale up to 5, equivalent to "elevated". "The terror-threat level is based on a long-term assessment which means that if the developments continue for a time, the threat level could be raised," SAPO said.

☆ Ukraine accuses senior military officer of high treason, alleges he passed intelligence on troops' movements to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The man, a military officer, is being held without bail while an investigation is underway. According to a press release from the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Military and Defence Sphere of the Western Region, the senior military officer has been accused of treason. "This information helped the Russians counter the Ukrainian military on one of the areas of the front," the Specialized Prosecutor's Office said. "The suspect was exposed 'red-handed' during another attempt to report to the enemy," the Specialized Prosecutor's Office said. "He swore loyalty to Ukraine and then betrayed," the Specialized Prosecutor's Office said.

☆ Nigeria asks social media giants to curb fake news ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannABUJA, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria has asked Google (GOOGL.O) and Meta (META.O) to control the spread of fake news on their platforms ahead of a presidential election this month, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said on Friday. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has been exploring ways to regulate social media usage. The country is home to millions of internet users and platforms like YouTube, Twitter , Facebook and Tiktok are popular. Mohammed's request comes after he asked Google last year to block the use of YouTube channels and livestreams by secessionist and Islamist militant groups in the country. "These actions, if executed, will go a long way in checking the proliferation of fake news and disinformation on social media ahead of, during and after the elections," Mohammed said.

In a statement that did not name Kolomoiskiy, the SBU published the same photographs, but with the person's face blurred out. If someone is not ready for change, then the state itself will come and help them change," Arakhamia wrote on the Telegram messaging app. The head of the State Bureau of Investigation said the law enforcement action was "only the beginning". The oligarchs took control of swathes of industry during the post-Soviet privatisations of the 1990s and wield influence to this day. Reporting by Olena Harmash; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Timothy Heritage and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine security forces smash prostitution ring run by migration officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service said on Wednesday it had broken up a prostitution ring run by immigration officials, part of a drive to crush corrupt practices and meet Western standards on eliminating graft. The SBU said the ring had been headed by officials of the Migration Department of the national police, normally responsible for safeguarding the interests of displaced people. "These senior officials oversaw a broad 'protection' scheme for prostitution in Kyiv and in other regions," the SBU statement said. In a nightly video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the security services for their "quick reaction to these shameful developments". Russia's invasion prompted more than 7 million people to leave Ukraine, according to U.N. figures, though nearly half subsequently returned home.

☆ Ukrainian authorities raid home of billionaire Kolomoiskiy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ukrainian state security officials searched the home of billionaire businessman Ihor Kolomoiskiy on Wednesday, in what several media outlets said was an investigation into possible financial crimes. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) did not immediately reply to a request for comment about the reports, and Kolomoiskiy could not be reached for comment. Ukrainian anti-corruption officials are also investigating a case in which they suspect eight people of embezzling assets and funds from a state-controlled oil company formerly tied to Kolomoiskiy. The United States sanctioned him in 2021 "due to his involvement in significant corruption". U.S. authorities have also alleged Kolomoiskiy and a business partner laundered stolen funds through the United States.

On energy, the ministry has “completely overhauled the previous government’s Russia-friendly policy” to reduce Germany’s dependence on Russian natural gas, it said. “That tells you something.”Germany consistently underestimated the Russian threat and gave counterintelligence work a low priority, but that is changing now in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts and Western officials said. Last April, Berlin expelled 40 Russian Embassy employees for allegedly working for Russian intelligence services. Germany’s intelligence services failed to anticipate that Russia would invade Ukraine, a failure that has yet to be the subject of any publicly released “lessons learned” review. Such a review would show Germany is serious about altering its approach, the Western official said.

☆ Ukrainian agent accused of spying for Putin was found with stacks of foreign cash and Russian SIM cards, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A lieutenant colonel in Ukraine's intelligence service was charged with being a Russian spy. Security services said they found stacks of cash and Russian SIM cards in his home. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said it detained a lieutenant colonel from its own agency, and discovered stacks of foreign cash and SIM cards issued by Russian carriers when searching his home. The lieutenant colonel's arrest comes as Ukraine's key security services continue to wrestle with the task of eliminating Russian moles among their ranks. "Ukraine made a major mistake in not following the lead of the Baltic nations following independence in reforming the security services from ground zero," he said, per The Guardian.

☆ Ukrainian authorities detain alleged spy in security service
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Investigators have detained a Ukrainian security official on suspicion of spying for Russia, authorities said on Thursday, part of an effort by Kyiv to weed out moles nearly a year into a war with Russia. The official - a lieutenant colonel in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) which joined the operation - had revealed the location of military checkpoints and other "secret information", the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said. A search turned up mobile phones, Russian SIM cards, cash and other evidence proving "longstanding ties" to Russian state and law enforcement structures, the SBI added. "Today the service works as a single team and is doing the maximum for Ukraine's victory," said SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk in a separate statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy fired the previous SBU director, a childhood friend, last July citing collaboration with Russia by officials in the powerful agency.

Russia has opened a criminal case against a United States citizen on suspicion of espionage, the country's Federal Security Service announced Thursday. The security service did not name the individual or say whether they had been taken into custody. "The American is suspected of collecting intelligence information on biological topics directed against the security of the Russian Federation," the security service said. Russia has so far refused to release Whelan, with the seriousness of espionage charges seen as a reason why. Last week, Russia released a U.S. citizen who had crossed into its Kaliningrad exclave weeks after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.

☆ Russian Spy or Ukrainian Hero? The Strange Death of Denys Kiryeyev
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Brett Forrest | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Days after Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian intelligence agents left a corpse on a sidewalk in the center of Kyiv with a bullet hole in the back of the skull. The dead man, 45-year-old banker Denys Kiryeyev , was killed as a traitor. The Security Service of Ukraine—the country’s primary domestic intelligence agency, known as the SBU—shot Mr. Kiryeyev because he was allegedly spying for Moscow, an agency official said.

☆ Weapons for Russia, anti-government protests and the nuclear deal: What lies ahead for Iran in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The Biden administration went from encouraging negotiations on reviving the Iranian nuclear deal to levying more sanctions on Tehran and condemning it for providing lethal weapons and training to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. Iran's Foreign Ministry denies knowing about Iranian weapons transfers to Russia, despite evidence of Iranian-made drones wreaking havoc on Ukrainian cities. Sergei Savostyanov | AFP | Getty Images"2023 is going to be a pivotal year for Iran," Ali Vaez, Iran project director at non-profit Crisis Group, told CNBC. The nuclear deal: too far gone? Ukraine has blamed Iran for providing Russia with drones, which have been used to attack Kyiv.

Chase Premier Plus Checking℠ 3.5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5 out of 5 Stars Annual Percentage Yield (APY) 0.01% effective as of 7/1/2022. Interest rates are variable and subject to change Minimum Deposit Amount $0 Fees $25 View Full Details Learn MoreChase Premier Plus Checking℠ 3.5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5 out of 5 Stars Annual Percentage Yield (APY) 0.01% effective as of 7/1/2022. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE.

Dec 19 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the Federal Security Services to step up surveillance of Russian society and the country's borders to prevent risks from abroad and traitors at home. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's Security Services Day - widely celebrated in Russia - Putin said the "emergence of new threats" increases the need for greater intelligence activity. "Work must be intensified through the border services and the Federal Security Service (FSB)," Putin said. Putin instructed the FSB to maximise their "use of the operational, technical and personnel potential" to tighten control of the society. "It is necessary to severely suppress the actions of foreign special services, quickly identify traitors, spies and saboteurs."

☆ Exploding grenade launcher a gift from Ukraine, Polish police chief says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Poland's top policeman said that an explosion in his office was caused by a grenade launcher, telling private broadcaster RMF FM that he had received two of the weapons as a gift from Ukraine. Poland's interior ministry and prosecutor's office had not previously confirmed media reports that the explosion on Wednesday, at police headquarters in Warsaw, was caused by a grenade launcher. Prosecutors said they were investigating the blast, which resulted in Police Commander in Chief Jaroslaw Szymczyk being taken to hospital. "When I was moving the used grenade launchers, which were gifts from the Ukrainians, there was an explosion," Szymczyk told RMF FM. RMF cited a source from a Polish delegation that visited Ukraine as saying Szymczyk had received two launchers from officials as presents during visits to the police and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

☆ Ukrainian intelligence announces seizure of propaganda in Russian Orthodox church, blurs face of cat 'agent'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian intelligence said Thursday its agents had seized propaganda found inside Russian Orthodox churches. In a statement, Ukraine's SBU also said it found Russian passports and looted icons. It also released a photo of those agents that included a cat whose face was blurred. The SBU also claimed to have found documents indicating that Russian Orthodox priests were collaborating with the Russian government and its occupation authorities in Kherson. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the Russian Orthodox Church of seeking to "weaken Ukraine from within" amid calls from some to ban the organization.

☆ Ukraine slaps sanctions on senior clerics in pro-Moscow church
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine is slapping sanctions on 10 senior clerics linked to a pro-Moscow church on the grounds they agreed to work with Russian occupation authorities or justified Moscow's invasion, the security service said on Saturday. The announcement is the latest in a series of steps against a Ukrainian branch of the Orthodox Church linked historically to Moscow. The Orthodox Church in Russia itself backs the war. The Ukrainian branch formally severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church last May, but is still mistrusted by many Ukrainians and accused of secret co-operation with Russia. Since the collapse of Soviet rule, competition has been fierce between the Moscow-linked church and an independent Ukrainian church proclaimed soon after independence.

☆ Ukraine seeks ban on churches 'affiliated' with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KYIV, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government will draw up a law banning churches affiliated with Russia under moves described by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as necessary to prevent Moscow being able to "weaken Ukraine from within." The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) it said was searching at least five parishes belonging to a branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which until May was subordinated to the Russian Orthodox Church. The branch has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but many Ukrainians fear it could be a source of Russian influence in the country. "Therefore, the state of Ukraine does not have any legal grounds to put pressure on or repress our believers," he said. The Orthodox Church in Russia has lavishly backed the Kremlin's nine-month-old invasion of Ukraine.

☆ Brussels: Morocco's World Cup win against Belgium triggers riots
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Sammy Mngqosini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Belgian police detained dozens of people on Sunday after Morocco’s 2-0 World Cup win over Belgium at the World Cup triggered riots in Brussels. “It was immediately decided to proceed to a police intervention, with the use of a water cannon and tear gas,” the Brussels police said. The office of Brussels mayor Philippe Close told CNN that parents of the young rioters will be held liable for damaged infrastructure in the Belgian capital. The victory against Belgium was Morocco’s first win at a World Cup since 1998 – and just its third ever. Abdelhamid Sabiri scored with a free kick in the second half before Zakaria Aboukhlal sealed the famous win with Morocco’s second goal in stoppage time.

But among critics, their appearance has evoked parallels with the civil war when the state collapsed, militias controlled the streets and Beirut split into cantons. Such criticisms are rejected by Gemayel, a lawmaker in the Kataeb Party whose father, Bashir, led the main Christian militia in the civil war until he was assassinated in 1982 after being elected president. Lebanon's sectarian parties disarmed at the end of the war, bar Hezbollah, which kept its arsenal to fight Israel. Their pervasive influence is never far from the surface and tensions are common in a country awash with guns. Supporters of different groups fought deadly clashes in Beirut as recently as last year.

☆ Ukraine's security service raids Kyiv monastery, suspects Russian sabotage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Ukrainian law enforcement officers check documents of a visitor of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 22, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoKYIV, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service and police raided a 1,000-year-old Orthodox Christian monastery in Kyiv early on Tuesday as part of operations to counter suspected "subversive activities by Russian special services", the SBU said. The sprawling Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex that was raided is a Ukrainian cultural treasure and the headquarters of the Russian-backed wing of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church known as the Moscow Patriarchate. "These measures are being taken ... as part of the systemic work of the SBU to counter the destructive activities of Russian special services in Ukraine," the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement. A 2020 survey by the Kyiv-based Razumkov Centre found that 34% of Ukrainians identified as members of the main Orthodox Church of Ukraine, while 14% were members of Ukraine's Moscow Patriarchate Church.

☆ British spy chief: Iran tried 10 times to kidnap or kill UK-linked individuals
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Iran's intelligence services have made at least 10 attempts to kidnap or even kill British nationals or individuals based in the United Kingdom regarded by Tehran as a threat, the head of Britain's domestic spy agency said on Wednesday. "At its sharpest this includes ambitions to kidnap or even kill British or UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the regime," McCallum said in a speech at MI5's headquarters. McCallum said the Iranian intelligence services were "a sophisticated adversary" who sometimes operated using their own staff or courted others to work on their behalf, and sometimes they were prepared to take "reckless action". Iran said on Wednesday several French intelligence agents had been arrested in connection with the protests. "The current wave of protests in Iran is asking fundamental questions of the totalitarian regime," McCallum said.

Kherson, Ukraine CNN —For eight months, residents of the Ukrainian city of Kherson have been living under brutal Russian occupation. But on Friday, Ukrainian forces swept into the city and Russian troops retreated to the east. Another local resident named Andrew said he was so glad to see Ukrainian soldiers. The woman said it felt “amazing” to see Ukrainian troops in Kherson. He warned that many Russian troops “threw away their military uniforms, and are now hiding with civilian clothes on.”

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