Rinaldo Nazzaro, a former Pentagon contractor and leader of the neo-Nazi terrorist group The Base, relocated to Russia and is suspected of being a Russian spy. Allegations suggest he’s linked to the FSB, aligning with Russia’s strategy of utilizing far-right groups for attacks on Western democracies. This tactic, part of a broader hybrid warfare approach employed by the Kremlin, involves funding extremist groups, spreading disinformation, and providing paramilitary training. The suspicions surrounding Nazzaro, including financial irregularities and his prominent role in The Base’s operations, have raised serious concerns within US intelligence agencies.
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Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, has declared an unprecedented level of Russian interference in the country’s presidential election, utilizing disinformation and hybrid attacks targeting critical infrastructure. These attacks, exceeding double the number from last year, aim to paralyze Poland’s state functions and have impacted systems including water, energy, and administrative bodies. This escalation comes as Poland serves as a key logistical hub for Ukraine, making it a prime target. The government is actively working to bolster online security and collaborate with social media platforms to mitigate these threats.
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France’s recent accusation of repeated cyberattacks by Russian intelligence underscores a long-standing pattern of alleged Russian aggression against various European nations. This isn’t a new development; it’s the latest chapter in a seemingly ongoing saga of interference and destabilization efforts, encompassing a range of tactics far beyond the digital realm.
The accusations highlight a broader concern about the vulnerability of European nations to sophisticated cyber warfare. The fact that France, a significant European power, is explicitly naming Russia as the perpetrator suggests a level of confidence in the evidence gathered, possibly indicating the attacks were particularly brazen or damaging. The timing of these accusations also raises questions – is this a response to a specific, recent incident, or is it a culmination of long-simmering tensions that have finally reached a boiling point?… Continue reading
Finland’s eastern border with Russia remains closed following a phased closure in late 2023 due to concerns over Russia using migrant flows to exert pressure. Parliament is currently reviewing an extension of the border security act, including a “pushback” law allowing the Border Guard to refuse entry to asylum seekers deemed part of Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics. This action is justified by the persistent risk of instrumentalised migration posing a significant threat to Finland’s national security and public order. The ongoing situation underscores the precarious geopolitical landscape in the region.
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Trump’s tech bros are being framed by Brussels as an existential threat to the EU, and the situation is far more complex than a simple trade war. The core issue isn’t just tariffs on steel and aluminum; it’s a calculated attempt to undermine the EU’s regulatory power, specifically its efforts to control disinformation and rein in the power of tech giants. This isn’t merely about economics; it’s a fight for regulatory sovereignty.
This isn’t a new phenomenon, however. The influence of these powerful tech companies, fueled by right-wing political movements across the globe, has been steadily eroding democratic processes for years.… Continue reading
A Chinese-crewed cargo ship, the Hongtai, was detained by Taiwanese authorities following the severing of a subsea telecom cable near Penghu. The Togolese-registered vessel, operating under a flag of convenience and with Chinese funding, was intercepted and escorted to Taiwan for investigation. While the cause remains undetermined, the incident is being treated as a potential national security matter, with the possibility of intentional sabotage under consideration. The crew is currently being questioned, and the investigation is ongoing.
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Germany’s Inspector of the Navy, Vice Adm. Jan Christian Kaack, announced that multiple German warships were recently sabotaged, with damage affecting “more than one unit.” This follows a report detailing metal shavings deliberately placed in the engine of the new corvette, Emden, potentially causing significant damage. Kaack cited a growing and urgent threat from Russia, though he did not explicitly attribute responsibility for the sabotage. The incidents come amid a series of suspected attacks against German and allied infrastructure, prompting heightened security concerns.
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Rostelecom, Russia’s state-controlled telecoms giant, reported damage to its Baltic Sea underwater cable caused by an “external impact.” Repair efforts are underway, with the company assuring that service disruptions to consumers have been avoided. This incident follows a series of similar cable cuts in the Baltic, prompting accusations of Russian-orchestrated hybrid warfare against Ukraine’s Western allies. The nature of the “external impact” remains unconfirmed.
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NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber, James Appathurai, confirmed a foiled Russian plot to assassinate Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, highlighting it as one of several attacks targeting European defense leaders. Appathurai detailed Russia’s escalating hybrid warfare campaign against the West, employing methods such as online recruitment of operatives to conduct sabotage and destabilizing actions. This campaign, he stressed, predates the Ukraine war and is integrated into broader Kremlin strategy, encompassing political interference and infrastructure damage. He urged a unified European response and a “wartime mindset” to counter this persistent aggression.
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A severed undersea fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden, located within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, prompted a joint investigation by Latvian and Swedish authorities, with NATO’s assistance. A Latvian patrol boat inspected a suspicious vessel, while two others remain under investigation for potential involvement in the damage. While the cable sustained significant damage, LVRTC assures that service disruptions to end-users are minimal due to alternative routes. This incident follows a series of similar attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, prompting NATO’s “Baltic Sentry” mission to protect the region.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood