In the midst of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) conflict, the spotlight falls on Aviacon Zitotrans, a Russian cargo airline entangled in controversy. Steering this entity is Valery Savelyev, a figure with a complex past intertwining business, politics, and alleged ties to Russia’s intelligence networks. As the head of AVS Group, the umbrella corporation encompassing Aviacon Zitotrans, Savelyev’s image as a philanthropist contradicts a murky history. Formerly associated with Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, he faces accusations linking him to the FSB and organised crime. Savelyev’s intricate web of aviation enterprises, with Aviacon Zitotrans at its core, sparks…

President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defence minister in what is seen as a strategy to intensify his war on Ukraine.

Russia is recruiting far-Right extremists to carry out attacks in the UK and Nato countries, National Security News has learned.Intelligence sources have said that terrorists recruited by Russian GRU agents have been responsible for a series of attacks in Western Europe and the US in the last six months.The sources said that extremists are being recruited by undercover officers of the GRU – the Russian military intelligence service – and members of the mercenary group Wagner.It comes after the expulsion of Col Maxim Elovik, the Russian defence attache to the UK, who is believed to be a GRU operative.An intelligence…

The Russian agent expelled from Britain for spying is Maxim Elovik, an intelligence officer working under the cover of the defence attaché to the UK.Elovik – who has been in Britain for around a decade – is believed to be a member of the Russian military intelligence service called the GRU, also known as the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.In his role, Col Elovik would have been responsible for planning and coordinating numerous Russian covert operations in the UK and could have potentially been involved, or at least had prior knowledge…

In June 2023, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia, aiming to initiate negotiations to end the Russian-Ukrainian war. The delegation, which included the heads of state from Egypt, Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Zambia, and Uganda, faced a setback when they were detained at an airport in Warsaw. The mission yielded little progress, leading some to view it as a geopolitical diversion from President Ramaphosa’s domestic challenges. His government has also been accused of bias towards Russia. Despite these setbacks, Ukraine remains eager to engage with Africa, particularly South Africa, in facilitating the return…

Ukraine is intensifying its engagement with Africa through the expansion of its grain exports and the establishment of new embassies across the continent. A crucial aspect of this outreach involves inviting journalists from Africa to visit Kyiv.

Americans have already received over 16 billion political robocalls this year, and scammers are poised to plague the 2024 elections with the latest AI deceptions and deepfake tricks, according to a report released by Transaction Network Services (TNS). As the nation prepares for one of the most pivotal electoral contests in its history, the spectre of manipulated audio and video content looms large. The TNS Q1 2024 Robocall Investigation Report highlights three primary categories of political scam calls: fraudulent campaign donations, election surveys, and false voting registration. These are delivered through robocalls, which are automated phone calls that play a…

British defence chiefs are considering plans to develop an Israeli-style air defence dome amid fears that the UK could be targeted by long range missiles and attack drones. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Armed Forces most senior officer, said the plans were part of a “live conversation” to help the UK and its allies “better defend ourselves” against threats which “will only increase.” Admiral Sir Tony said the UK will require an Iron Dome system in the future, and added: “We’ve got certain capabilities at the moment that help to protect the UK…

mid concerns that China’s Change’e 6 mission to the moon, launched on May 3, could be a part of a strategy to militarise the moon, Dr John Plumb, the Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy at the U.S Department of Defence, said, “I do not buy the idea of the militarisation of the moon.” He expressed his belief that space could instead serve as a significant platform for diplomacy with China. On the threat of nuclear weapons in space, Dr Plumb said the Defence Department (DOD) was taking the threat of Russia sending a nuclear head into space very seriously,” and added that no space-faring nation should entertain such a capability due to its catastrophic implications. Regarding the threat of cyber-attacks in space, Dr Plumb suggested that constellations of low-orbit satellites could provide a solution to ensuring satellite safety and said that the DOD is exploring other potential applications of low-orbit satellites

As China’s foreign policy becomes more aggressive and centralised, the world is seeing a new international order. In this article, published originally by The Conversation, Professor of International Security Stefan Wolff explores how Xi’s meetings with foreign leaders shows China’s growing economic and military strength, as it starts to play a more dominant role on the world stage. China’s new world order: looking for clues from Xi’s recent meetings with foreign leaders

Israel has given Hamas a one-week ultimatum, presenting the militant group with a choice between agreeing to a hostage deal or facing a potential ground invasion of Rafah against the terror group’s remaining strongholds in Gaza. CIA Director William Burns is currently in Cairo for hostage talks, with a Hamas delegation set to arrive on Saturday. While there are indications that Israel and Hezbollah are nearing a deal to ease tensions along the northern border, Israeli officials caution that progress is contingent upon a hostage deal being reached first. A senior Israeli official has tempered expectations regarding the immediacy of…

While the war in Ukraine rages on, a webinar hosted by the Warwick Ukraine-Belarus Society highlighted the lingering anxieties surrounding a wider European war. Despite ongoing efforts to support Ukraine’s defence, the risk of escalation remains a major concern among policymakers and analysts. The panellists outlined several potential forms escalation could take, including the war spilling over into neighbouring countries like Moldova or the Baltics, or even an accidental military confrontation between Russia and NATO. While the immediate risk may seem low, the speakers stressed the need for sustained attention and proactive measures to address the evolving security challenges and…