🚔 Chechnya plans yet-another Defence Ministry regiment 🚔 Chechen Prime Minister Magomed Daudov revealed that the republic is in the process of forming a new unit within the Defence ministry, and that it will be manned by 2,000 fighters. Daudov’s comments came during Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov’s annual direct line — a local imitation of one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regular televised talkfests. Kadyrov wears his best outfit for his annual broadcast. Daudov was providing a year-end...
about 1 month ago • 6 min read
🪖 CAR murder prompts trucker protests against Wagner🪖 Cameroonian truckers working in the Central African Republic (CAR) have gone on strike over the murder of a colleague — which they have blamed on the Wagner Group. The incident demonstrates the problem of accountability regarding private military companies (PMCs). The murder took place in Bogoin, on the road to Bangui, and the truckers have labelled it an “assassination.” In response, they have refused to continue working in CAR, parking...
about 2 months ago • 6 min read
🪖 Investigation sheds light on Russian propaganda in Central African Republic 🪖 An international consortium of investigative journalists — led by Forbidden Stories and involving Vazhnyye istorii and the Dossier Centre among others — has published information on Russian propaganda operations in the Central African Republic, linked to the Wagner Group and the networks built by its late-owner Yevgeniy Prigozhin. The members of the investigative consortium have each published separately on the...
about 2 months ago • 10 min read
The main stories this week đź’Ł Terrorism & insurgency The Southern District Military Court sentenced two Dagestani residents, Magomed-Vali Bulatov and Nariman Nurmagomedov, to 13 years and nine years one month respectively for transferring money to Hayat Tahrir ash-Sham in Syria. A local court in Magas arrested 28-year-old Ingushetian resident Ramazan Ekazhev on suspicion of planning to blow up an oil facility. Ekhazhev reportedly acquired a 2 kg improvised explosive device for the purpose. His...
2 months ago • 1 min read
What I’m thinking about the future of Threatologist I’m planning some major changes. Hit reply and let me know what you think of them! Big change #1: Launching a new Russian security resource hub. At some point in the new year, I plan to launch a resource hub for professionals working on Russian security issues, and specifically those working on the topics I focus on: terrorism & insurgency, the North Caucasus, private military companies, and state-linked security services. The working name...
2 months ago • 3 min read
African Corps expands operations to Equatorial Guinea The Central African country is the latest to embrace Russian military cooperation as part of a broader effort to develop bilateral ties. Russia has reportedly started deploying military personnel to Equatorial Guinea, following an agreement reached in June 2024 by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov and Equatorial Guinean Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue. The deployment is under the auspices of the African Corps,...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Which Chechen units have lost the most personnel fighting in Ukraine? One of the most under-researched units features surprisingly high on the list. Chechen units have been heavily involved in Russia’s war on Ukraine, with many rotating in and some created for the express purpose of fighting there. Indeed, there has been a proliferation of new units following the start of the “special military operation.” This, naturally, gives rise to the question of which units have been most heavily...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Token measures against Russian propaganda Offering a reward for information on Rybar is unlikely to achieve much The US State Department, through its Reward for Justice program, is offering up to $10 million for information on Rybar, the company behind the eponymous pro-military Telegram channel. This is symbolic at best, irrelevant at worst. What is Rybar? Rybar is one of the most prominent Telegram channels providing news and analysis on Russian military affairs. It currently has more than...
3 months ago • 7 min read
This week, I've been super busy with client work, so I don't have any exciting new insights for you. But fear not: below, you'll find all the key developments from the last week-and-a-bit, and I should be back in your inbox next week with something new! Have a lovely weekend :) In the news 💣 Terrorism & insurgency Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that it had prevented a terrorist attack on an Interior Ministry building in Smolensk Oblast. According to the official account, a...
3 months ago • 4 min read