The U.S. House of Representatives on September 16 gave final approval to a bill tightening sanctions on Russia, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. The measure passed 262–159. The Senate approved it in August, so the bill will now be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature....
Hungary and Slovakia became a convenient platform for Russian intelligence inside NATO
Hungary and Slovakia are of significant interest to the Kremlin because of their EU and NATO membership. The long tenure of political forces that built close ties with Moscow created favorable conditions for expanding Russian influence. Through loyal political elites, economic links, information platforms and agent networks, the Kremlin gained...
Finnish Customs investigates €5.9 million in shipments to Russia that circumvented sanctions
Finnish Customs is investigating an alleged circumvention of EU sanctions: goods worth about €5.9 million may have been exported to Russia in 2022–2023. Finnish broadcaster Yle reported this, citing Customs. According to investigators, the case involves two companies from eastern Finland. One handled export operations; the other stored the goods....
How Russia’s education system abroad builds loyalty to the Kremlin and hostility toward the West
Education in Russia has never been limited to instruction. It has always performed an ideological and upbringing function as well. School curricula, textbook content, “patriotic education,” and military training are shaped by state priorities set by the Kremlin. Their purpose is to form a generation loyal to Russian government policy...
A tourist paradise for circumventing European sanctions
Tighter Western restrictions have not cut Russia off from dual-use technologies and sanctioned goods of European and American origin used in Russia’s defense industry. Having adapted to the sanctions, Moscow has widened the geography of supply through third countries — from traditional transit routes in Central Asia to tourist and...
Over 100 MEPs call for talks to resume on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine
More than 100 Members of the European Parliament have signed a letter urging EU leaders to urgently reopen talks on using frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine. The letter was sent on Wednesday, 9 September, and addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU foreign policy chief...
Russian submarines tried to test a secret weapon against undersea cables near Norway’s coast
This spring, in the deep Arctic waters near the Svalbard archipelago, NATO allies discovered that Russian submarine forces were training to use a secret weapon designed to disable critical undersea cables without leaving visible traces. Reuters reported this, citing two officials. According to the agency, the operation was carried out...
Russia expands its cyber war against Europe
From 24 to 26 August, Norway’s government digitalisation agency Digdir fended off a cyberattack that Norwegian officials described as the largest in recent months. The attack disrupted logins through ID-porten to dozens of government services, including MinID, Altinn and E-innsyn. According to Norwegian media, Digdir documents were also among the...
Slovakia again blocks extension of individual EU sanctions against Russia
The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states on Wednesday, 9 September, again failed to agree on an extension of individual sanctions imposed for actions undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The ambassadors’ meeting ended without any deal. The sole obstacle remains Slovakia’s position. Bratislava...
UK charges Swindon man with assisting Russian military intelligence
In the United Kingdom, 31-year-old Joshua Cammidge of Swindon has been charged under the National Security Act over alleged cooperation with Russian military intelligence. The announcement was made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard). According to investigators, Cammidge communicated with and received instructions from...