Recent Russian Intelligence Operations

[davidbfpo]

The UK press appear to have some information, although whether this has been officially "leaked" or is based on their own journalism I leave you to judge. Unless as at least one story suggested we had updated the US authorities and the "leak" was there.

Anyway amidst the reporting is this gem about the second Novichok use, with my emphasis:

A bottle found at the home of Charlie Rowley, who along with his partner Dawn Sturgess, was poisoned by the nerve agent used in the Skripal attack at the end of last month, is said to have yielded forensic evidence which has also helped drive the investigation. Ms Sturgess subsequently died on 8 July: an inquest into her death was opened and adjourned today with police enquiries continuing. Mr Rowley remains severely ill. His brother, Matthew, has said that Ms Sturgess had sprayed from a discarded perfume bottle the couple had found onto her wrist.

Link:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a8454501.html

The Daily Mail has slightly more, including a link to a CNN story.
Link:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...k-mission.html

[davidbfpo]

Added as an update as the police investigation moves along; with huge dependence on trawling through CCTV and the identification of to Russian GRU named suspects:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45421445

The disinformation aspect:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45454142

[davidbfpo]

Bellingcat adds to the evidence that the two recently named suspects are GRU operatives. Fascinating that such open source information can be assembled in these circumstances.

Link to Part One:https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-a...rity-services/

Link to Part Two:https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-a...ons-disclosed/

[AdamG]

Totally.
https://news-sky-com.cdn.ampproject....gence-11509532

[davidbfpo]

Odd that Sky News do not credit Bellingcat:

Bellingcat and its investigative partner The Insider – Russia have established conclusively the identity of one of the suspects in the poisoning of Sergey and Yulia Skripal, and in the homicide of British citizen Dawn Sturgess.

Curiously bellingcat use sources familiar with the GRU and so I'd take this with a "pinch of salt":

The source further surmised that to send a highly decorated colonel back to a field job would be highly extraordinary, and would imply that “the job was ordered at the highest level.”

Link:https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-a...toliy-chepiga/

There's also this - which credits Bellingcat:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...sias-highest/?

[davidbfpo]

I have just merged the 2018 thread on the attempted murder of ex-GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal, in Salisbury, England. Posts 51 to here refer to issues linked to this incident.

[davidbfpo]

A startling development this morning when the Dutch military intelligence agency (AVID) held a press conference on the action taken in 2017 to expel four accredited diplomats - who were GRU -whose trade craft to say the least was lacking.

(Added) The AVID briefing slides (x35):https://t.co/UUD5CvmJZn

The US DoJ has followed on with indictments.

There are different, detailed reports in the UK:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45746837 and https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...l-weapons-body