French authorities have detected a coordinated disinformation campaign, linked to the Russian network Storm-1516, aimed at falsely implicating President Emmanuel Macron in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. This operation involved a fabricated article published on a website impersonating France Soir and was amplified on social media platform X, including through an AI-generated video. While Macron’s name appears in Epstein-related documents, French officials and reporting indicate no evidence of wrongdoing or contact with the financier. The campaign, part of Storm-1516’s broader activities, poses a threat to public discourse.
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A deputy chief of Russia’s military intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, was shot and wounded in Moscow on Friday. The attack occurred in an apartment building and follows a pattern of assassinations of senior military officers that Russia has attributed to Ukraine. Alekseyev, who has held a senior GRU position since 2011 and has been decorated for his role in Syria, was hospitalized after the incident. This shooting comes shortly after peace talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. negotiators concluded in Abu Dhabi.
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On February 6th, the European Commission proposed its 20th sanctions package against Russia, aiming to further diminish the revenue streams funding its war in Ukraine. A significant component of this proposal involves a comprehensive ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil, to be coordinated with G7 partners, which would prohibit European companies from providing insurance, shipping, financing, and other essential services for the transport of Russian oil, irrespective of its price. The package also introduces measures to restrict Russia’s shadow fleet, reinforce pressure on its banking sector by sanctioning additional regional banks and crypto-related channels, and implement further export and import bans on various goods and technologies crucial for Russia’s war effort. For the first time, the EU’s anti-circumvention tool is proposed for activation to prevent sensitive products from reaching Russia through third countries.
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Widespread failures of Starlink terminals within Russian forces have severely hampered battlefield command and control, according to Ukrainian partisans. This loss of communication, exacerbated by failed backup attempts and jamming of their own systems, has paralyzed troop coordination and led to deadly friendly fire incidents. Russia’s reliance on civilian technology has backfired, with the disabling of Starlink terminals by SpaceX resulting in a significant collapse of command and increased self-inflicted losses for Russian units.
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An Uzbek national was apprehended and subsequently jailed in January following his involvement in the 2024 explosion that claimed the life of General Igor Kirillov outside a Moscow apartment building. The Ukrainian SBU intelligence agency has claimed responsibility for this targeted attack. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and clandestine operations between Ukraine and Russia.
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Russian leader Vladimir Putin acknowledged a significant economic slowdown in 2025, with growth reaching only 1%, falling short of projections. This marks a departure from the war-driven expansion seen in preceding years. While Putin attributed the slowdown to deliberate anti-inflationary measures, the reduction in growth coincides with the prolonged war in Ukraine, which has strained the economy and led to decreased revenues. The Russian economy now faces stagflation, a challenging environment where inflationary and recessionary pressures coexist.
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Elon Musk’s decision to deactivate Russian military-operated Starlink terminals has significantly disrupted Kremlin forces along a 1,000-kilometer front, leaving commanders without communication and hindering combat operations. Ukrainian reports indicate that Russian units reliant on Starlink for digital communication are now unable to transfer data securely, forcing some to resort to paper maps and couriers. This swift action by SpaceX, implemented within 48 hours through software and hardware changes, has effectively shut down unauthorized Starlink terminals in Ukraine, a move praised by Ukraine’s Defense Minister as delivering “real results.” While this has crippled Russian command and control, it has also inadvertently affected some Ukrainian gray market terminals, prompting an official registration process to ensure continued access for authorized users.
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Amid claims by the US President that India would halt Russian oil purchases, India’s Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that ensuring energy security for its vast population remains the nation’s supreme priority. The government’s strategy centers on diversifying energy sources based on market conditions and evolving international dynamics, with all decisions being guided by this principle. India also affirmed its openness to sourcing oil from Venezuela and other nations based on commercial viability. Russian officials, meanwhile, expressed no reason to believe India would alter its energy cooperation with Russia, emphasizing the mutual benefits and stability it provides to the international energy market.
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In a significant maritime operation, Estonia detained the Bahamas-flagged container ship *Baltic Spirit* in the Gulf of Finland. The multi-agency effort, involving police special forces, naval vessels, and aerial support, boarded the ship en route to St. Petersburg, detaining all 23 Russian crew members. While not part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” or under EU sanctions, the detention stems from suspected smuggling activities, with an investigation ongoing to determine the nature of illicit cargo. This complex interdiction marks Estonia’s largest maritime seizure to date, highlighting increased regional vigilance in sensitive maritime corridors.
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Authorities in Cyprus have identified a body discovered last month on Avdimou beach as Vladislav Baumgertner, 53, the former CEO of Russia’s largest potash company. Baumgertner had been missing from his home in Limassol since January 7, and DNA analysis confirmed his identity. An investigation into the circumstances and cause of his death is currently underway. Baumgertner was previously detained in Belarus in 2013 on charges of harming the Belarusian economy, an incident analysts attributed to retaliation for his company’s withdrawal from a joint venture.
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John Q. Hosedrinker