Russia Archives - The Debrief

Recent Intel Report Reveals New Starlink Vulnerabilities, Increasing Concerns About the Future of Global Satellite Internet

Tim McMillan·August 15, 2023

Intel report reveals how Russian military intelligence have created custom malware to exploit Starlink security vulnerabilities.

Australian Space Agency Confirms Fireball Seen Over Melbourne Was Russian Rocket Reentry

Micah Hanks·August 8, 2023

A brilliant fireball seen streaking through the skies over Australia has been identified as the reentry of a Russian rocket, according to a statement from the Australian Space Agency.

Ultra-Long-Range Storm Shadow Missile Wreaking Havoc with 100% Accuracy in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Christopher Plain·June 1, 2023

Ukrainian Defense officials say that the Storm Shadow Long Range missiles provided by Great Britain have been wreaking havoc on Russian forces with 100% accuracy.

G7: World Leaders Prepare to Attend Summit in Hiroshima This Weekend

Micah Hanks·May 18, 2023

As world leaders convene for the annual G7 Summit, we’ll be analyzing the location, significance and other details about this year's meeting.

In a Surprise Move, Russia Says it Will Support International Space Station Operations Through 2028

Micah Hanks·April 28, 2023

Russia says it has agreed to continue to support the International Space Station (ISS) until 2028 despite mounting tensions between Moscow and Western nations, according to a recent statement from NASA.

New Concerns Over Threats from Space Revealed in Latest U.S. Classified Document Leak

Micah Hanks·April 27, 2023

This week's newsletter examines the latest concerns arising from U.S. top-secret document leaks, and what they convey about China and Russia’s space programs.

Hacktivists Order FBI Memorabilia and Sex Toys For Fugitive Russian Intel Officer After Hacking His Email

Tim McMillan·April 12, 2023

A group of Ukrainian hacktivists say they successfully hacked the email of a wanted Russian intel officer and ordered sex toys to his home.

Pentagon Releases Video of Russian Fighter Jet Forcing Down U.S. Surveillance Drone

Tim McMillan·March 16, 2023

Dramatic video from the Tuesday encounter between an American MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drone and a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea.

2023 Annual Threat Assessment: Here’s What U.S. Intelligence Says You Need to Know

Micah Hanks·March 9, 2023

This week's newsletter examines an annual report from the ODNI detailing Intelligence Commnunity's threat forecast for the coming year.

China Isn’t Giving Lethal Aid to Russia… Yet. Here’s What U.S. Officials Know.

Micah Hanks·February 23, 2023

This week's Intelligence Brief newsletter examines the Pentagon's recent statements on whether China plans to provide lethal aid to Russia.

Russia Wants To Use Robotic Tanks To Combat Advanced Western Armor in Ukraine. It’s Likely a Fantasy

Tim McMillan·January 27, 2023

Russia claims it is developing a robotic tank that will be capable of destroying advanced Western battle tanks. Defense experts says that's doubtful.

Mysterious Ukrainian Kamikaze Drones Are Quietly Continuing to Launch Attacks Deep Within Russia

Tim McMillan·January 23, 2023

Ukraine has been quietly carrying out strikes deep inside Russian territory using what appears to be a mysterious new type of kamikaze drones.

U.S. Developing Glide Phase Interceptor and Other Key Technologies to Combat Hypersonic Weapons Threats

Micah Hanks·December 27, 2022

American aerospace companies are working to develop innovative defense capabilities amidst new reports of Russia's increased use of hypersonic missiles.

The Strange Tale of Russia’s UFO Wonder Weapons Based on “New Physical Principles”

Tim McMillan·December 9, 2022

For over a decade Russia has been talking about developing "weapons based on new physical principles." An idea that apparently has its origins in the belief of UFOs.

Russia Left Behind a Trove of Classified Intelligence During its Retreat From Kherson

Tim McMillan·November 17, 2022

During its hasty retreat from Kherson, Russia's security services apparently left behind critical classified documents, which have now been seized by Ukraine's SBU.

Has “Putin’s Chef” and Wagner Boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Become a Challenge To the House of Putin?

Tim McMillan·October 25, 2022

Recently stepping out of the shadows to become the "face of the Russia's Ukraine invasion," is "Putin's Chef," Yevgeny Prigozhin, now a threat to the House of Putin?

Suspicious Drones Seen Over German Military Sites Training Ukrainian Soldiers

Tim McMillan·October 6, 2022

A rash of suspicious drone activity near German military bases training Ukrainian soldiers raises concerns over possible Russian espionage.

Russian Space Agency Seeks to Continue Operations Aboard the ISS Beyond 2024

Micah Hanks·October 6, 2022

This week, we look at how the Russian space agency is now looking at the possibility of continuing its space operations aboard the International Space Station beyond 2024.

Annexation Won’t Help Russian Industry Recover Staggering Losses of Military Drones, Moscow Admits

Tim McMillan·September 30, 2022

Annexation of Ukrainian territory will do nothing to solve Moscow's military woes, including Russian industry's inability to produce military drones.

Why Do Influential Russians Keep Mysteriously Dying?

Tim McMillan·September 22, 2022

In the past few months over a dozen influential Russians have mysteriously died. What the heck is going on?

Russian Spy Successfully Infiltrated NATO Command Circles, Stunning Report Reveals

Tim McMillan·August 26, 2022

A bombshell investigative report by an international collective of journalists reveals a Russian spy who was able to successfully infiltrate top NATO Command Circles.

Opinion: What Amnesty International Got Wrong in its Ukraine Endangering Civilians Claim

Tim McMillan·August 5, 2022

In accusing the Ukrainian military of unnecessarily placing civilians in harm, Amnesty International showed off remarkable unfamiliarity with military operations.

Russia’s Withdrawal from the ISS May Quicken the Arrival of Future Private Space Stations

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·August 5, 2022

Russia's withdrawal from the ISS could cause a lot of future problems, and hints at trends toward private space stations.

Search Underway For Russian Soldier Filmed Castrating, Murdering Ukrainian POW

Tim McMillan·July 30, 2022

A search is said to be underway for the Russian soldier seen torturing and castrating a Ukrainian prisoner...

With The Belgorod, Russia Bulks Up its “Other,” Secret Navy

Tim McMillan·July 28, 2022

The world's longest submarine recently entered the shadowy fleet of Russia's "other," highly-secretive navy.

Fleeced and Furious: Russia’s FSB Steals Car from Russian Military, First Stolen From Ukraine

Tim McMillan·July 13, 2022

In a bizarre series of events, Russia's FSB steals a car from the Russian military that was originally stolen from Ukraine.

Documents Reveal Alleged Russian PSYOP Instructions For Dealing With Ukrainians

Tim McMillan·May 31, 2022

Kremlin documents purportedly reveal instructions to Russian soldiers on conducting effective psychological operations, or PSYOP, when dealing with...

Russia Using Smartphone “Game” To Recruit Ukrainian Children as Unwitting Spies

Tim McMillan·May 25, 2022

Russian intelligence is using smartphone games to turn children into unwitting spies to help locate Ukrainian military and strategic installations.

Know No Mercy: The Russian Cops Who Tried To Storm Kyiv By Themselves

Tim McMillan·May 20, 2022

In an exclusive feature, this is the insane and previously untold story of a group of Russian cops who tried to storm the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv by themselves.

Retired Russian Colonel Gives Rare Brutally Honest Assessment of Ukraine War

Tim McMillan·May 17, 2022

In moment rarely seen on Russian TV, retired Russian Colonel, Mikhail Khodaryonok, offered a brutally honest assessment of Russia's current situation since launching the invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin-Backed Fighters Left Abandoned, Then Detained By Russian Border Guards

Tim McMillan·May 16, 2022

Separatist fighters from the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) were apparently abandoned by commanders and then detained by...

Intelligence Chief Warns of “Prolonged Conflict” in Ukraine

Micah Hanks·May 12, 2022

In recent days, DNI Avril Haines provided concerning new details on intelligence assessments about Russia’s long game in Ukraine.

The Battle For Donbas Has Begun. Here’s What To Expect

Tim McMillan·April 19, 2022

Late Monday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Russia had launched its long-anticipated offensive along Ukraine’s eastern Donbas...

New Images and Details From the Sinking of Russia’s Flagship Moskva

Tim McMillan·April 18, 2022

Late afternoon, Thursday, April 14, the Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the sinking of the Project 1164 Atlant class guided-missile...

War Crimes in Ukraine: The Latest Evidence

Micah Hanks·April 6, 2022

In recent days, the world was shocked by images coming out of Ukraine depicting the apparent killings of civilians in Bucha.

Russia Issued a New Policy on Mass Burials Just Before Invading Ukraine

Tim McMillan·April 6, 2022

The Russian Federation put in effect a new national policy on mass burials during military conflicts a mere...

UPDATE: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine- Day 30

Tim McMillan·March 25, 2022

On Thursday, February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The action marked a significant escalation between...

Meanwhile in Russia: War Crimes, Vanishing Officials, and Defiant Soldiers

Micah Hanks·March 24, 2022

As the battle in Ukraine rages on, hopes that the conflict will soon end are now being voiced by an increasing number of Russians.

Does Russia Still Have a Path to Victory in Ukraine?

Tim McMillan·March 22, 2022

All indications point to Ukrainian forces having defeated Russia’s initial military campaign by week four of its invasion. ...

Deputy Commander of the Russian National Guard Ousted

Tim McMillan·March 18, 2022

As Moscow continues to face fierce resistance in the third week of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has...

Sermon of The Long Knives – An Analysis of Putin’s Latest War Cry

Tim McMillan·March 18, 2022

On March 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a fiery speech to Russian cabinet members, offering a strong...

Nearing a Crossroads: Latest Assessment of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Tim McMillan·March 16, 2022

On Thursday, February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The action marked a significant escalation between...

“Overcrowded With The Dead”: Latest On Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine- Day 20

Tim McMillan·March 15, 2022

On Thursday, February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The action marked a significant escalation between...

Help Me China! Help! – Latest on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Tim McMillan·March 14, 2022

On Thursday, February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The action marked a significant escalation between...

Russian Command Losses Are Staggering: THE LATEST ON THE INVASION OF UKRAINE

Tim McMillan·March 11, 2022

On Thursday, February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The action marked a significant escalation between...

War Crimes and Threats of Chemical Weapons: The Latest on the Invasion of Ukraine

Tim McMillan·March 10, 2022

On Thursday, February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The action marked a significant escalation between...