Russia

A still image from a bodycam footage, released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows what it said to be crew members kneeling down in a cockpit during an operation held by Russian navy officers to board the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel with the help of a Ka-29 military helicopter in the Black Sea on August 13, 2023, in this image taken from video published August 15, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. WATERMARK FROM SOURCE.

Thu, Aug 17, 2023

Russian War Report: Tensions escalate in the Black Sea as the Russian navy forcefully inspects a civilian cargo ship

Russia escalated tensions beyond Ukraine again this week when its navy forcibly inspected and fired warning shots at a civilian cargo ship.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Digital Policy
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) listens to Arkady Volozh, Chief Executive Officer of Yandex, as he visits the headquarters of the company in Moscow, Russia September 21, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Thu, Aug 10, 2023

Russian War Report: Co-founder of Russia’s most popular search engine condemns war in Ukraine

A co-founder of Yandex, Russia's primary search engine, issued a public statement of opposition to the war in Ukraine and acknowledging his "share of responsibility."

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Human Rights
Members of security services investigate a damaged office building in the Moscow City following a reported Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow Russia, August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Thu, Aug 3, 2023

Russian War Report: Drones target central Moscow skyscrapers

Drone strikes hit central Moscow this week killing none but damaging a skyscraper. Meanwhile, TGStat has restricted access to a Telegram channel that tracks Russian casualties.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Conflict
SCREENCAP: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SPEAKS AT RUSSIA-AFRICA FORUM AT ST. PETERSBURG, SAYING RUSSIA IS READY TO USE REGIONAL CURRENCIES FOR SETTLEMENTS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Thu, Jul 27, 2023

Russian War Report: Kremlin seeks stronger ties in Africa as Wagner eyes Niger coup

As Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the Russia-Africa Summit, he and his government are making moves to solidify regional cooperation. Amid this, Wagner seeks to capitalize on the coup in Niger.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Africa Belarus

Mon, Jul 24, 2023

Pro-Russia actors target Armenia with anti-Ukraine propaganda

Suspicious quotes magnified by pro-Russian sources used to undermine Ukraine's reputation in Armenia

by , Roman Osadchuk

Armenia Conflict

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Russia moves conscription and contract soldier recruitment online

Russian public services portal Gosuslugi becomes cornerstone for military recruitment, including delivering online conscription notifications

by Valentin Châtelet, Eto Buziashvili

Advertising Conflict

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Russian War Report: Wagner is still in business in Africa

Despite their Russia-based forces being relocated to Belarus after their failed mutiny, Wagner Group is still alive and active in Africa, including ahead of a referendum in the Central African Republic.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Africa Belarus
Banner: A damaged canvas sign featuring the logo for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) appears among the ruins of an attack on an aid station in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine. (Source: zoda_gov_ua/archive)

Thu, Jul 13, 2023

Russian War Report: Russian airstrike hits humanitarian aid station

Russian offensives in Donetsk and Luhansk left several villages damaged from shelling while a Russian airstrike destroyed an aid station in Zaporizhzhia.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Geolocation
Marina Tauber, leader of the opposition pro-Russian political party Shor, delivers a speech during a hearing of the Constitutional Court in Chisinau, Moldova, June 19, 2023. (Source: Reuters/Vladislav Culiomza)

Tue, Jul 11, 2023

Inauthentic Facebook campaign promoted pro-Russian Shor Party messaging in Moldova

The campaign sponsored ads in support of convicted oligarch Ilan Shor and used fake accounts to target Moldova's pro-European government

by Victoria Olari, Iain Robertson

Disinformation Eastern Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 21, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Tereshchenko/Pool via REUTERS

Mon, Jul 10, 2023

Chinese social media messaging downplays significance of Wagner mutiny

Beijing promoted the view that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny was a one-off event and emphasized Russia’s “return to normal,” lending further legitimacy to its support for Russia and their deepening partnership

by Kenton Thibaut

China Propaganda

Fri, Jul 7, 2023

Russian War Report: Russian conspiracy alleges false flag at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Allegations of a supposedly US and Ukraine-planned false flag operation on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant spread across social media ahead of the NATO Summit.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Botnets Conflict

Fri, Jun 30, 2023

Russian War Report: Kremlin denies that it targeted civilians in a missile attack on a pizza restaurant

A deadly Russian missile strike on a cafe in Kramatorsk leaves a dozen dead and more injured. Post-mutiny, Wagner's future in Africa is up in the air.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Africa Belarus
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