Dead Drop: January 19

MORE NEWS FROM THE UKRAINIAN UN-WELCOME WAGON: We have previously told you about reports of two young Ukrainian women who (according to some sources) on a couple of occasions, have posed as friendly locals who brought tainted food and drink to invading Russian forces. In one instance, 24 Russian soldiers were said to have died and in another, 18 died and 14 were hospitalized. Now the legend of the “two nice girls” continues – according to Business Insider, media in the region say that police in Yalta attempted to apprehend the women in a private house and were surprised to find that they were “well armed” and “well prepared.” The police were expecting to be greeted with snacks perhaps? A Telegram channel that goes by the colorful name of “Kremlin Snuffbox” said that three officers were killed and two wounded before the Ukrainian Thelma and Louise sped off.

SEE YOU IN THE FUNNY PAGES: As we have previously noted – the Chinese government appears to be really worried about reports that the United States and western allies are re-doubling their efforts to re-assemble spy networks in China. Alas, Beijing is not standing idly by but instead, are bolstering their own defenses in a funny way.  The Economist notes that the Chinese intelligence service, MSS, has launched an online comic strip called the “Shenyin Special Investigation Squad” about a team of spy fighters.  The troop of counterespionage agents is made up of all the usual tropes: tech geeks, martial arts whiz women and such. The concept apparently is to reinforce the notion among the Chinese populace to be on the lookout for nefarious western spies.

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