[rebelmouse-image 60323897 expand=1 dam=1 alt="OSR Full Logo Header 2.0" site_id=26883708 is_animated_gif="false" original_size="500x200" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/60323897/origin.png%22%2C%20%22thumbnails%22%3A%20%7B%22origin%22%3A%20%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/60323897/origin.png%22%2C%20%22300x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D300%22%2C%20%221000x750%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1000%26height%3D750%26coordinates%3D116%252C0%252C117%252C0%22%2C%20%22600x600%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D150%252C0%252C150%252C0%22%2C%20%222000x1500%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D2000%26height%3D1500%26coordinates%3D116%252C0%252C117%252C0%22%2C%20%221200x400%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C17%252C0%252C17%22%2C%20%22600x200%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D200%26coordinates%3D0%252C17%252C0%252C17%22%2C%20%22750x1000%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D750%26height%3D1000%26coordinates%3D175%252C0%252C175%252C0%22%2C%20%221500x2000%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1500%26height%3D2000%26coordinates%3D175%252C0%252C175%252C0%22%2C%20%221245x700%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D72%252C0%252C72%252C0%22%2C%20%22600x400%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D100%252C0%252C100%252C0%22%2C%20%221200x800%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D800%26coordinates%3D100%252C0%252C100%252C0%22%2C%20%221200x600%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D50%252C0%252C50%252C0%22%2C%20%22700x1245%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D700%26height%3D1245%26coordinates%3D193%252C0%252C194%252C0%22%2C%20%2235x35%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D35%26height%3D35%22%2C%20%22600x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%22%2C%20%22300x300%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D300%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D150%252C0%252C150%252C0%22%2C%20%22600x300%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D50%252C0%252C50%252C0%22%2C%20%22980x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D980%22%2C%20%22210x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg5Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NjU3MDYxMX0.ArCiKF74VYJw-LAnvo3nzjJsGsjrz-Fcx0h5SaMLFd0/image.png%3Fwidth%3D210%22%7D%2C%20%22manual_image_crops%22%3A%20%7B%229x16%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%22700x1245%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20113%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20193%7D%2C%20%22600x300%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%22600x300%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20400%2C%20%22left%22%3A%2050%7D%2C%20%223x1%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221200x400%22%2C%20%22600x200%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%2017%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20166%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20500%2C%20%22left%22%3A%200%7D%2C%20%223x2%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221200x800%22%2C%20%22600x400%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20300%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20100%7D%2C%20%221x1%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%22600x600%22%2C%20%22300x300%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20150%7D%2C%20%223x4%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221500x2000%22%2C%20%22750x1000%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20150%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20175%7D%2C%20%2216x9%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221245x700%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20356%2C%20%22left%22%3A%2072%7D%2C%20%224x3%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%222000x1500%22%2C%20%221000x750%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20267%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20116%7D%2C%20%222x1%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221200x600%22%2C%20%22600x300%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20200%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20400%2C%20%22left%22%3A%2050%7D%7D%7D" caption="" photo_credit="" title=""]

10:00 AM ET, Monday, September 18, 2023

The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines, broken down by region of the world:  

THE TOP STORIES:

The UN General Assembly Begins Today.  The theme of this year’s meeting is “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity”.  President Joe Biden, the only leader of a permanent member of the UN Security Council that will attend, is scheduled to address the assembly on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to speak in person at the meeting and will likely push world leaders for further support amid Russia’s invasion.  Zelensky will also reportedly speak at a UN Security Council Meeting, which could put him in the same room as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.  China’s Vice President Han Zheng will represent Beijing and is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the gathering.  Al Jazeera South China Morning Post CNN

U.S. National Security Advisor Meets with China’s Foreign Minister.  The U.S. and Chinese governments said Sunday that White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malta this weekend. According to the separate statements, both sides described the talks as “candid, substantive, and constructive”. A senior Biden administration official added that there were also “limited” early signs that severed military communications between the two nations might be restored. Chinese officials did not comment on the possible resumption of military communications. Another US official said that the meetings spanned 12 hours over the two days. This meeting is the latest in a series of high-level engagements between U.S. and Chinese officials that could lay groundwork for U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet later this year. China’s foreign ministry said that both parties agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and hold bilateral consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs, foreign policy, and maritime affairs.  Reuters Politico South China Morning Post

China’s Foreign Minister Begins Russia Visit.  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began a four-day visit to Russia for security talks on Monday.  China’s foreign ministry said the visit, which is Wang’s second trip to Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, is “routine activity” under the strategic security consulting mechanism.  Russia’s foreign ministry said last week that Wang will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss Ukraine, Asia-Pacific security and other issues.  Wang is expected to lay the groundwork for a possible visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China next month for the third Belt and Road summit in Beijing.  China confirmed Wang’s Russia trip hours after his talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Malta.  South China Morning Post

Turkey May ‘Part Ways’ with EU, Erdogan Says.  When asked about the contents of a European Union (EU) report on Turkey, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey could “part ways” with the EU if it was necessary. The EU report said that Turkey could not resume its accession process to the EU under current circumstances and called for the EU to explore “a parallel and realistic framework” for its relations with Ankara. Turkey has been an EU candidate for 24 years but talks have stalled in recent years over human rights concerns and the respect for the rule of law. Ahead of his trip to the U.S., Erdogan said to reporters “the EU is trying to break away from Turkey. We will make our evaluations against these developments and if necessary, we can part ways with the EU”. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said that the EU report contained unfounded allegations and took a “shallow and non-visionary” approach to Ankara’s ties to the EU.  Reuters

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Sign Security Pact.  The three West African nations of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso signed a security pact Saturday promising to come to one another’s aid in the case of any rebellion or external aggression. The three countries have seen relations with their neighbors deteriorate precipitously due to recent coups and are also currently struggling to contain Islamic insurgents tied to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. The latest coup in Niger had driven a further wedge between the three nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which has threatened to use force to restore constitutional rule in the country. According to the pact known as the Alliance of Sahel States, “any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties”. Prior to the coups, all three countries were a part of the France-backed G5 Sahel alliance formed to combat Islamist groups in the region. Reuters

U.S. Citizens Depart Iran in Prisoner Exchange Deal.  Five Americans with dual citizenship who have been imprisoned in Iran were freed on Monday under a prisoner swap between Tehran and Washington.  Sources said the exchange was made available after $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds were transferred to Qatari accounts.  The detainees are reportedly flying to Doha and then will continue to the U.S.  An Iranian official said they are all “in good health.”  Iran’s foreign ministry said five Iranians detained in the U.S. will be released in return, with two going back to Iran, two staying in the U.S. at their request, and one joining family in a third country.  Reuters Associated Press Washington Post

STORIES THAT MAY NOT BE ON YOUR RADAR:

Pentagon Says Production of 155mm Artillery Rounds Years Ahead of Schedule.  Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said that the production of 155mm artillery rounds, vital to the Ukrainian war effort, is years ahead of schedule. He noted that the current rate of production is now almost double the rate from six months ago, at 28,000 a month. The Pentagon is on track to produce 57,000 a month by the spring of 2024 and 100,000 per month by the fiscal year 2025. LaPlante argued that the capacity of the U.S. industrial base, which fell after the close of the Cold War, could rise again as Washington assists Ukraine, and makes investments in efforts to deter Beijing. According to an April report from The Associated Press, Kyiv fires 6,000-8,000 shells per day, and greatly needs a surge in munition production. The Pentagon’s funding bill for 2022 included nearly $1.5 billion to grow the military’s production capacity for the 155mm shell, and over the next 15 years an additional $18 billion is expected to be invested to increase the service’s organic industrial capacity. Defense News  Associated Press

EU Risks Dependence on Chinese Batteries, Fuel Cells.  A paper for EU leaders is warning that the bloc may become dependent on China for lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells by 2030 in a similar way to how it was dependent on Russian energy before the Ukraine war. The EU’s previous move of ending purchases of Russian energy after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine caused an energy price shock and spike in consumer inflation. The report says that the bloc is expected to become 10 to 30 times more dependent on the batteries and fuel cells in the coming years to meet storage needs as it shifts to renewable energy.   The paper also noted that the EU may also face vulnerabilities concerning the rising demand for “digital devices such as sensors, drones, data servers, storage equipment and data transmission networks.”  The EU is set to further discuss these economic security issues at a meeting in Granada, Spain on October 5.  Reuters 

THE UKRAINE UPDATE:

On the Battlefield

Ukraine says Klishchiivka Village near Bakhmut Recaptured.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that Ukraine’s military had reclaimed the eastern village of Klishchiivka on the southern flank of Bakhmut, which Russia has controlled since January. This would mark Ukraine’s second significant advancement in three days in its ongoing counteroffensive against Russian forces. In his nightly video message, Zelensky thanked the 80th airborne assault brigade, the "glorious 95th," the 5th assault brigade, and a national police assault brigade, and commended the “soldiers who, step by step, are returning to Ukraine what belongs to it, namely in the area of Bakhmut." The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, posted footage of Ukrainian soldiers showing off the national flag on destroyed buildings, with the sound of a battle raging in the background. On Telegram, he said that "Klishchiivka was cleared of the Russians.” Moscow has not yet commented on the development and Reuters could not confirm Kyiv’s reports. The Russian defense ministry on Sunday reported that its forces continued their attacks close to Klishchiivka. A spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, Ilia Yevlash, said the fighting wreaked “powerful damage” on motorized rifle units, the Russian General Staff's military intelligence, Russian airborne units, the "Akhmat" battalion of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and Storm-Z, which is composed of Russian criminals. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said “we had to fight off enemy attacks all day," as the Russian army was still making efforts to recapture lost positions at the settlement. Reuters Washington Post Al Jazeera ABC 

Russia Reports Ukrainian Drone Attacks in Crimea, Moscow.  Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that Russian air defense systems destroyed at least six drones targeting Crimea from different directions.  Meanwhile, Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that two drones were destroyed over the Istra and Ramensky district, adding that no injuries had been reported.  In a separate attack, the regional governor of the Oryol region, Andrei Klychkov stated that a Ukrainian drone damaged an oil depot early Sunday morning.  Another two strikes were reported in Russia’s Voronezh and Tula region with no reported casualties or damage. Kyiv has not commented on the drone strikes.  Reuters

Ukraine Farm Worker Killed by Mine.  One Ukrainian farm worker has died and another one was injured after their tractor hit a mine in a field in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, according to Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.  The Kherson region was liberated from Russian occupation yet remains heavily mined, leaving farmers to risk their lives working in fields that have not yet been cleared.  Prokudin pleaded with farmers on Telegram to not work in areas inspected by sappers.  This news comes after Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal claimed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had created the world’s largest minefield, reaching an area of 250,000 square kilometers (96,525 square miles).  Reuters

Russia Claims it Targeted Armored Vehicle Repair Plant in Kharkiv.  Russia’s defense ministry said Russian forces conducted a missile strike on a plant in Kharkiv where armored vehicles for Ukraine’s military are repaired.  Details regarding when the strike took place were not provided.  Ukrainian regional governor Oleg Synehubov wrote on Telegram on Sunday that Russia had hit a building of a “civilian enterprise” in Kharkiv using four S300 missiles.  Reuters

Ukrainian Air Force Says Russian Missiles Hit Agriculture Facility in Odessa.  Ukraine’s Air force says that Russia launched a combined drone and missile strike in the southern parts of the Odessa region early Sunday morning. The air force claims that Russia launched six Iranian-made Shahed drones and 10 cruise missiles with Ukrainian forces destroying six missiles and six drones. Odessa’s governor Oleh Kiper stated that a grain silo and agricultural fields were damaged in the Berezivskiy district with no reported casualties.  Russia has not commented on the attacks.  Reuters

Bulgaria Investigates Drone at Black Sea Resort.  Bulgaria’s defense ministry said it has deployed a special unit to investigate and deactivate a drone armed with explosives that landed in the Black Sea resort of Tyulenovo on Sunday evening.  The ministry said it will decide how to dispose of the drone after the investigation.  Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev added that it is highly likely that the drone is related to the Ukraine war, though he did not provide details on where the drone came from or how it reached Bulgaria, which is a NATO member.  Tyulenovo is 43 miles south of Romania and across the Black Sea from Russian-occupied Crimea.  Last week, suspected drone debris was found in Romania after a Russian attack on a Ukrainian port on the Danube across the border.  Reuters Politico RFE/RL

In Russia

Russian General Surovikin Reappears in Algeria After Absence.  Russian General Sergei Surovikin, who disappeared from public view in June after the Wagner Group’s attempted mutiny against Moscow’s military leadership, is reportedly in Algeria as part of a Defence Ministry delegation, according to a report by the Kommersant newspaper on Friday.  In photos published by the newspaper, Surovikin is allegedly seen in the North African country, a major purchaser of Russian weapons, dressed in a khaki suit without military insignia. The Kremlin has declined to comment on Surovikin’s status, but unverified reports this month said he was appointed chief of the air defense committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Experts at the Institute for the Study of War said that this act would be congruous with the past behavior of Russia to transfer “disgraced and ineffective” leaders to “peripheral positions far removed” from the war in Ukraine without removing them entirely from the Russian military.  Last year, Surovikin briefly led Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine before being demoted in January, and this summer he was reportedly investigated by the Kremlin for complicity in the Wagner revolt after mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin praised him publicly.  Reuters 

The Diplomatic Arena

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia Unilaterally Maintain Ban on Ukrainian Grain Imports.  Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia unilaterally declared that they will maintain a ban on grain imports from Ukraine, despite the European Commission’s decision to end the ban.  Romania is also reportedly considering a unilateral ban as well.  Ukrainian farmers have had to export their grain through neighboring countries after Russia’s invasion disrupted their ability to ship grain through Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.  The flood of cheap grains and oilseeds into neighboring countries has threatened local farmers who struggle to sell their own products at sufficient prices. To address this, the European Union (EU) imposed a ban on Ukrainian grain imports into neighboring countries in May that allowed Ukraine to export its grains through those countries on the condition that the product was sold elsewhere.  The EU allowed the ban to expire after Kyiv said it would take measures to control exports to neighboring countries.  Spain’s agriculture minister said the unilateral moves to maintain the ban may be illegal, and France warned that the issue is putting European solidarity at risk.  Reuters Euronews Politico

Two Ships in Ukrainian Port of Chernomorsk to Load Grain. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority announced that two ships — “Resilient Africa” and “Aroyat” — arrived in the port of Chernomorsk on Saturday to load grain.  Officials said that the ships were due to load almost 20,000 tonnes of wheat for shipment to Israel and Egypt. The moves are seen as a test of Ukraine’s ability to reopen shipping lanes as Russia attempts to reimpose its de facto blockade following its withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal.  Five vessels have so far left Ukraine’s port of Odesa using a temporary corridor along the western Black Sea coast.  Reuters

THE CYBER AND TECH RUNDOWN:

Apple Informs Three More Russian Journalists of Possible Smartphone Spyware Hacks.  Three more Russian journalists report they have been informed by Apple that their phones may have been targeted with spyware by state-sponsored hackers.  These notifications come in the wake of news that Galina Timchenko, executive editor of Meduza, an independent Russian media platform, had been hacked by Pegasus spyware. Maria Epifanova, the CEO of Novaya Gazeta Europe, and Evgeniy Pavlov, a correspondent for Novaya Gazeta Baltia, were informed by Apple of the possible device compromise in August.  Evgeny Erlich, a report for the Russian-language Current Time, did not disclose the timing of Apple’s notification.  Natalia Krapiva, a legal counsel at Access Now, said that more spyware compromises could be uncovered.  She said "It looks like it’s a larger problem than we thought.  Galina's case just opened the floodgates.”  The Record

Colombian Health Ministry, Other Government Departments Report Ransomware Attacks.  Ransomware attacks have impacted several government ministries in Colombia, blocking access to applications that include social services.  The Ministry of Health and Social Protection, judiciary departments, and the industry and commerce organization reported that a cyberattack on their technology provider, IFX Networks Colombia, triggered a variety of system and service limitations.  The health ministry reported that alternative services will be put in place to minimize the impacts on the public.  Meanwhile, the judicial department reported that all court operations, including most court hearings, certifications, accreditations, and temporary licenses, would be suspended until systems are restored.  A follow-up advisory from the judiciary later said some courts are functions and holding previously scheduled hearings.  The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce confirmed the attack on its systems and noted that it would suspend operations through the end of last week.  The Record

Russian Digital Rights Group Concerned by Legislator’s Call for VPN Ban.  A Russian legislator, Senator Artem Sheikin, has asked the government censor, Roskomnadzor, to examine if over 100 VPN services offered on RuStore, the official Android store, are violating laws that prohibit access to sites blocked in Russia. Sheikin, who previously called for Russia to erect a version of China’s “great Internet firewall,” said that if VPN’s are found to violate Russian law, “they should be immediately blocked and removed from RuStore.”  Sheikin is deputy chair of a committee supervising digital economy in the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament.  The chief legal officer of a Russian digital rights organization, Sarkis Darbinyan, said the proposed crackdown could lead to a “direct ban” on VPN services.  RuStore replaced app stores operated by Apple and Google, which shuttered their outlets with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  RuStore must be pre-installed on all smartphones brought into Russia, a circumstance that prompted Darbinyan to remark “it was obvious to us that it would only increase censorship. The Russian authorities want to gain control over the entire information space, which means that they need to control not only websites, but also, of course, the applications that users consume.”  Cybernews

Senior DoD Cyber Official Notes Limits of Independent Cyber Service Under Study.  While acknowledging that the idea of an independent cyber service is being examined by the Pentagon, a leading DoD cyber official cautioned that advocates for the concept should “be careful what you wish for.”  Mieke Eoyang, deputy assistant defense secretary for cyber policy, told reporters Friday that “we need to understand what the pros and cons are.”  She noted that each of the military services have cyber components that are tailored to their missions, adding that “having a cyber service that is divorced from those particular mission sets may pose some challenges in understanding” warfighting requirements.  Advocates for a separate cyber service point out the varied resources, procedures, and payscales for existing military arms may contribute to readiness issues.  An independent cyber service, they argue, would be focused exclusively on the recruitment, training and equipping of cyber forces.   Eoyang said the question before the Pentagon is “which set of problems are we willing to live with and taking a look at all these things to understand that better before we throw out what we have in favor of something else or decide actually what we have needs to be fixed or there’s something else completely.”  DefenseScoop

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:

The Americas 

Son of Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’ Extradited to U.S. Over Fentanyl Trafficking Charges.  Ovidio Guzman, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was extradited to the U.S. on Friday to face fentanyl drug trafficking charges.  Guzman was briefly arrested in 2019 but released on the orders of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to avoid bloodshed and retaliatory attacks from his cartel.  He was captured again in January after an intense firefight in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.  According to U.S. Court documents, Guzman and his brothers allegedly controlled extensive international fentanyl smuggling operations and “flooded” the U.S. with the drug in order to reap hundreds of millions of dollars in profit.  U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that Guzman’s extradition was the most recent step in American efforts to confront “every aspect” of drug trafficking by the Sinaloa Cartel and hold accountable those responsible for the ongoing opioid epidemic.  Reuters

Western Europe

German Foreign Minister Calls China’s Xi a ‘Dictator.’  German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator” in an interview last week.  She made the comment when discussing the Ukraine war, saying that if Russian President Vladimir Putin were victorious it would embolden “other dictators” like Xi.  China’s foreign ministry condemned the remark as “absurd” and an “open political provocation” and said that Beijing had complained to Germany.  Reuters Deutsche Welle Politico

Italian Military Jet Crashes During Exercise.  Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Saturday that a military jet crashed during a military exercise in Turin, striking a car in which a family was traveling and killing a five-year-old girl.  Crosetto said “the ministry expressed its condolences to the family members.” and added that he “had made available every facility and skill for the handling of the emergency and in support of any people involved”. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said that the pilot of the jet survived after ejecting with his parachute seconds before the crash.  Reuters BBC CNN

Central and Eastern Europe

Armenia Discusses International Criminal Court Plans with Russia.  Russian media reported on Sunday that Armenia discussed with Russia its plans to come under the International Criminal Court.  The move is strongly opposed by Moscow due to the court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over his alleged role in the war crime of illegally deporting children from Ukraine.  The ambassador at large of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, Edmon Marukyan, stated that Yerevan has sent “proposals” on the matter to Moscow and that “a meeting was held and the process is underway.”  Marukyan added that the move by Armenia to come under the court’s jurisdiction is not aimed at Russia but meant to address war crimes committed on territory of the Republic of Armenia by the Azerbaijani side,” in reference to the dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.  Russia has warned Yerevan of “serious consequences” if it comes under the court’s remit.  Reuters

Czech Protesters Rally for Pro-Russian Opposition Party.  An estimated 10,000 protestors attended a rally in Prague set up by the PRO, a pro-Russian Czech opposition party, on Saturday. The PRO is not represented by parliament and holds nationalist, pro-Moscow and anti-Western views. The rally was led by PRO leader Jindrich Raichl and held to protest the Czech governments’ economic management and military support for Ukraine.  Raichl has called on the government to veto any attempt made by Ukraine to join NATO and has hailed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a role model.  Raichal also called for an alliance of Central European countries in order to counter Brussels. The Czech Republic has recently suffered from double-digit inflation and has underperformed in comparison to its European counterparts.  Reuters

Asia and Oceania

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Returns Home After Russia Trip.  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly headed home by train on Sunday after a week-long visit to Russia.  North Korean state media said the rare trip marked “a fresh heyday of friendship and solidarity and cooperation” between Pyongyang and Moscow.  Russia’s defense ministry said Kim ended his trip with a visit to Russia’s Knevichi airfield, where he was shown Russian strategic bombers and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and a tour of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s frigate “Marshal Shaposhnikov” in Vladivostok on Saturday.  Russian state media and the Kremlin added that Kim was given parting gifts from his Russian hosts before leaving, including a Russian-made rifle, a cosmonaut’s glove, and several military drones — which on their own would violate U.N. Security Council sanctions on North Korea.  The U.S. and its allies have raised concerns about increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and warned against a possible arms deal between the two countries.  Moscow said that “no agreements” were signed during Kim’s visit.  Al Jazeera NBC News Reuters South China Morning Post

WHO Chief Calls for ‘Full Access’ from China for Covid-19 Investigations.  The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is calling on China to provide more information on the origins of Covid-19 and provide “full access” to a second team from the WHO to investigate the matter.  Ghebreyesus has long urged China to share information on the virus to resolve the debate over where it came from, with the two prominent theories being a zoonotic jump from animals to humans or an accidental laboratory leak from Wuhan.  His comments come as health authorities and pharmaceutical companies race to update vaccines to counter new coronavirus variants.  Financial Times Reuters

Middle East and Northern Africa

Sporadic Protests in Iran on Death Anniversary of Mahsa Amini.  There were sporadic protests in Iran over the weekend as the one-year death anniversary of Mahsa Amini, who was killed while in Iranian morality police custody, passed on Saturday.  Videos on social media showed protesters in the western Iranian city of Hamadan shouting “Death to Islamic Republic,” while other videos showed protesters running from apparent gunfire.  Iranian authorities later reported calm in the city.  Reuters could not authenticate the footage.  Separately, rights groups reported that several people were arrested in the Kurdish cities of Saqez and Sanandaj.  Iranian state media said dozens of “terrorists” were detained, including one allegedly planning a suicide attack.  Meanwhile, authorities said unidentified gunmen killed a member of the Basij paramilitary volunteer militia and injured another three on Saturday in southern Iran.  Rights groups say Mahsa’s father, Amjad Amini, was briefly arrested and warned against marking the anniversary of his daughter’s death.  Her family was reportedly not able to hold a planned vigil at her grave.  U.S. President Joe Biden marked Amini’s death, saying she “inspired a historic movement.”  Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected Western calls for the protection of women’s rights in Iran as “double standards and lies.”  CNN Reuters Associated Press

EU Presses Iran to Reassess Barring of IAEA Inspectors.  The EU on Sunday called on Iran to review its decision to ban several International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors assigned to supervise Tehran's nuclear activities, noting that such oversight was included in the Iran nuclear deal.  Iran’s choice to bar the inspectors was in retaliation to a call led by the US, the UK, Germany and France last week for Tehran to cooperate with the IAEA on problems, such as explaining traces of uranium discovered at undeclared sites.  EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said that the bloc was unsettled by the ban and that it has a “ direct and severe impact” on the IAEA’s capacity to perform its monitoring duties.  Reuters France 24

Turkish Drone Strike in Northern Iraq Kills Three YBS Fighters.  Three fighters from the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a militia associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), were killed in a Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq on Sunday, according to Iraqi security sources.  Turkey has long conducted strikes in Iraq and Syria against insurgents of the YSB, PKK, and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which are all seen as terrorist forces by Ankara.  Reuters

Iran Guards Arrest Dual National for ‘Organizing Unrest and Sabotage.’  Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that its Revolutionary Guards on Saturday arrested a dual national suspected of "trying to organize unrest and sabotage."  The unidentified individual was reportedly detained by the Guards’ intelligence arm in the city of Karaj with "several smart phones ... and an appreciable sum of dollars."  In recent years, the Guards have imprisoned dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, primarily on security-related and espionage charges. This latest arrest came as the U.S. and Iran conducted a prisoner swap that included the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iran’s funds.  Reuters

Sub Saharan Africa

Ethiopian Forces Reportedly Clash with Al Shabaab in Western Somalia.  Ethiopian forces reportedly clashed with al Shabaab fighters near the town of Rab Dhuure in western Somalia on Saturday.  Residents reported hearing large explosions and an exchange of gunfire near Rab Dhuure, which sits around 12 miles from the Ethiopia border.  Al Shabaab claimed to have ambushed an Ethiopian convoy of troops in the area.  Ethiopia's army and Somali authorities did not respond to requests for comment.  Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya agreed in February to begin “search and destroy” operations against Al Shabaab.  Reuters

The data cutoff for this product was 8:30am ET.

Read deeply-experienced, expert-driven national security news, analysis and opinion in The Cipher Brief