Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: Afghan policy reversal reinstates special forces night raids; historic verdict in Blackwater Iraq shootings trial could set precedent; United States facing multiple cyber offensives from state and non-state adversaries; and more.
Tag: Russia
The monthly briefing, December 2014: Civilian rule returns to Burkina Faso, concern over Russia’s territorial expansion, conflict with Islamic State increasingly complex
The first in a new series of monthly political and security risk briefings that have replaced our weekly updates. This month: civilian rule returns to Burkina Faso but armed forces retain considerable power; concern over territorial expansion after Russia signs treaty with Georgian breakaway territory of Abkhazia; conflict with Islamic State in Syria becomes increasingly complex; and more.
The weekly briefing, 27 October 2014: Gunman attacks Canadian parliament, pro-European parties look to have won Ukrainian election, Russia developing underwater combat robots
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. Gunman attacks Canadian parliament after shooting dead soldier at National War Memorial in Ottawa, pro-European parties look to have won Ukrainian parliamentary election, Russia developing underwater combat robots for use in Arctic, and more.
Strategic Order of Battle: Russian Airborne Forces
This handbook from Open Briefing provides an in-depth look at the ongoing transformation of Russia’s airborne forces, together with a strategic order of battle that details personnel and equipment levels for each of Russia’s four airborne divisions, four independent air assault brigades, Spetsnaz regiment, headquarters units and training division. As such, it represents the most detailed open source intelligence on Russia’s airborne forces available today.
Press release: Civil society intelligence agency lifts the lid on Russia’s ‘little green men’
When uniformed irregular forces wearing no insignia moved to control key locations in Crimea in March 2014, few believed the Kremlin’s claim that they were local volunteer self-defence forces. It soon became clear that the men preparing the way for Russia’s annexation of Crimea were from elite Russian military units, including paratroopers and special forces from Russian Airborne Troops. With its origins in the 1930s, Russia’s airborne force is currently the largest and most highly-mechanised in the world. Their presence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine only confirms their status as an elite force within the Russian military.
The weekly briefing, 20 October 2014: Ebola in West Africa, dialogue between North and South Korea, attentions turn to Lebanon
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. Ebola continues to destabilise a number of West African countries, little progress made in dialogue between North and South Korea, attentions turn to Lebanon in balancing regional sectarian threat, and more.
The weekly briefing, 13 October 2014: Conflict in Libya intensifies, Minsk summit exposes growing tensions within Commonwealth of Independent States, Suicide bombers target Iraq in weekend of terror attacks
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. Conflict in Libya intensifies as armed groups pledge support for Islamic State, Minsk summit exposes growing tensions within Commonwealth of Independent States, Suicide bombers target Iraq in weekend of terror attacks, and more.
The weekly briefing, 15 September 2014: EU and US impose additional sanctions on Russia, Syrian army regains control of Halfaya from al-Nusra Front, Nigerian military on high alert as Boko Haram threatens Maiduguri, and more
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. Nigerian forces on high alert following increase in frequency of Boko Haram operations in Borno State, European Union and United States impose additional sanctions on Russia, Syrian army regains control of Halfaya from al-Nusra Front, and more.
