Week of May 5: Kremlin File Week in Review

Hey guys, the new Kremlin File’s Week in Review episode is out. It covers the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond.

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Show Notes…

The European Commission has targeted Russia’s powerful liquefied natural gas industry in its latest package of measures to curb Moscow’s ability to finance its war on Ukraine. In particular, it wants to block re-exports of LNG via EU ports. Hungarian foreign ministry spokesman Máté Paczolay hinted Budapest could block the package. Hungary would be virtually unaffected by the proposal being discussed; ports in France and Belgium are the biggest purveyors of Russian LNG re-exports. Via Politico

The Commission proposes to restrict Belarusian exports of gold, oil, gas, and diamonds. EU companies will also be prohibited from providing services to the country and a broader set of dual-use goods will be blocked for export. Via Politico

Satellite Images Reveal Where Russian Nukes Could Be Stored in Belarus. A New York Times analysis shows security upgrades unique to Russian nuclear storage facilities at a Cold War-era munitions depot. Via NYT

FT: Russia plotting 'violent sabotage' across Europe, intelligence agencies warn. Russia is plotting violent acts of sabotage across Europe, with intelligence agencies warning countries on the continent to expect more covert bombings and arson attacks on infrastructure, the Financial Times (FT) reported on May 6. Via Kyiv Independent

US says Russia used choking agents against Ukrainian troops, breaching chemical weapons ban. The United States has formally accused Russia of using chemical weapons “as a method of warfare” against Ukraine and imposed sweeping new sanctions on Russian firms and government bodies. Via CNN

Georgia: Foreign agents’ law and the crackdown of the Georgian police against the peaceful protesters. European Council President Charles Michel was even more blunt when he tweeted, "Let me be clear: the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence is not consistent with Georgia's EU aspiration and its accession trajectory and will bring Georgia further away from the EU and not closer." Via Politico

Violent Attacks Leave Opponents Of Georgian 'Foreign Agent' Bill Bloodied, Bruised, And Defiant. Several Georgian opposition figures were severely beaten on May 8 amid a government crackdown on mass demonstrations over a controversial bill affecting organizations that receive international funding. Via RFERL

Lithuania’s foreign minister has raised the prospect of an ad hoc coalition of Western countries sending military training personnel into Ukraine backed by ground-based air defense, days after Russia took an increasingly strident tone against what it sees as the threat of deeper Western involvement in the war. Via The Guardian

Russian forces attack Ukraine's Kharkiv region, striking on new front. Russian forces launched an armoured ground attack on Friday near Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv in the northeast of the country and made small inroads, opening a new front in a war that has long been waged in the east and south. Via Reuters

Armenia is suspending its funding for Collective Security Treaty Organization activities and will “abstain from joining” the group’s 2024 budget, which was adopted last November. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly criticized the CSTO for its inaction during Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory, which was ethnically cleansed of Armenians late last year. Armenia formally remains a member of the CSTO. Via RFERL

Thousands of protesters in Armenia demand the prime minister’s resignation over Azerbaijan dispute. Thousands of protesters angered by the government’s decision to hand over control of some border villages to Azerbaijan have demonstrated in the center of the Armenian capital for a second day to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Via ABC News

The Russian hacker gang NoName057(16) targeted key Italian institutions. These included Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s website, those of the Ministries of Infrastructure and Enterprise, and a sub-domain of the Guardia di Finanza—the financial police. These attacks come after attacks on the UK, GPS jamming over the Baltics that suspended Finnair and Estonian flights. Via Formiche

Ukraine says it foiled a Russian spy agency plot to assassinate President Zelenskyy. Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said Tuesday. Via AP

Sanctions have hit the Russian air travel business: there are serious problems in finding parts, documentation, and services for Russian carriers. Before the war Boeing and Airbus provided 70% of Russia’s fleet of aircraft service. There’s been a collapse of imports for specific components. According to FT, they are skirting this by opening warehouses in airports in areas across the world. Via FT

Kyiv can use British weapons inside Russia - Cameron. UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has said it is up to Ukraine to decide how to use British weapons and insisted it has the right to strike targets on Russian territory. Via BBC

Source: Military intelligence drones strike oil refinery in Russia's Kaluga Oblast. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) was behind the May 10 attack on the oil refinery in Russia's Kaluga Oblast, a source in the agency confirmed to the Kyiv Independent. Via Kyiv Independent

China has been hit with sanctions by the US for supplying “critical inputs to Russia’s military-industrial base” for use in the war against Ukraine. US officials on Wednesday announced a sweeping package targeting nearly 300 entities in Russia, China and other countries. Via The Guardian

US includes 37 Chinese entities to trade blacklist due to national security concerns. Apart from 11 companies reportedly connected to the 2023 spy balloon incident, 22 were added to the list because they were linked to China's efforts to improve its quantum technology. Via Kyiv Independent

Xi visited Paris, Hungary, and Serbia: Hungary and Serbia scored contracts. Via Politico

FBI watching if US support for Ukraine will spur Russian risk taking in 2024 election. US intelligence officials are watching closely to see if the United States’ support for Ukraine will lead the Russian government to take more risks in potentially interfering in the 2024 presidential election, a senior FBI official told reporters Thursday. Via CNN

Appeals court upholds Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress conviction. A federal appeals court panel on Friday upheld the criminal conviction of Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Via AP

Paul Manafort, poised to rejoin Trump world, aided Chinese media deal. The former Trump campaign chairman, who’s likely to help manage this summer’s GOP convention, resumed consulting work after being pardoned in 2020. Via Washington Post

Beware of FAKE VIDEOS on social media and fake accounts saying “I will not vote for Biden.” Via X thread and another X thread