Researcher on info ops, narratives, security-related topics, and hybrid warfare from Syria to Eurasia. Editor, Security and Defense, Capital. Non-Resident Fellow at DFRLab. DRM Journal co-founder. https://bio.link/ruslantradhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mrafcpa7zc24Reuters reveals how the Chinese fentanyl chemicals fueling America’s deadly opioid crisis are cheap and easy to get. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/fentanyl-express/22 Jul 2026 13:07 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrafcpa7zc24https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mrafbkivo224"While Western countries focus on the competitive threat of Chinese EVs, a different challenge is reshaping the auto industry. Beijing's legacy automakers are saturating the vehicle markets." https://www.reuters.com/investigations/china-floods-world-with-gasoline-cars-it-cant-sell-home-2025-12-02/22 Jul 2026 13:06 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrafbkivo224https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mqpnahpx3c2iBecause why not. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cuba-military-options-pentagon/15 Jul 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpnahpx3c2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mqmrzu63d22vOf course. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/feature/2026/07/13/eu-expands-libya-cooperation-despite-repeated-warnings-over-violence-sea14 Jul 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmrzu63d22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mqkmkxzjts2jFirst known use of U.S. seaborne drones during war - during attacks on Iran.13 Jul 2026 21:18 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkmkxzjts2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mqk7yq4xic2aThe Trump administration's new Balkans policy—cutting NATO's Kosovo force and lifting sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik—is unraveling decades of American-built security architecture in the region, creating risks for both Bosnia and Kosovo. https://theins.press/en/politics/29463613 Jul 2026 17:33 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqk7yq4xic2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpz2uptcyk27As a gesture of goodwill, Macron is personally returning 23 ancient Mesopotamian, Roman, and Byzantine archaeological artifacts to the National Museum of Damascus. The treasures had been loaned to Paris's Arab World Institute in 2010 but could not be returned due to the war. https://www.dw.com/en/macron-syria-official-visit/a-7785679106 Jul 2026 21:46 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpz2uptcyk27https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpyfd7cbws25"Civilians in Burkina Faso have accused the national army of preventing them from leaving government-held towns blockaded by jihadist rebels, forcing them to remain in life-threatening conditions where there is a lack of food and other basic essentials." https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/investigations/2026/07/06/burkina-fasos-army-accused-preventing-civilians-leaving-jihadist-besieged06 Jul 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpyfd7cbws25https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpye352r5k2qhttps://substack.com/home/post/p-20551569006 Jul 2026 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpye352r5k2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mprdbdlhoc26Major chatbot platforms found to be advertising unregulated online casinos across Europe, @investigate-europe.eu research shows. https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/ai-chatbots-lure-vulnerable-gamblers-unlicensed-betting-websites03 Jul 2026 19:55 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mprdbdlhoc26https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpqd4higac22Of course, the first thought about who is behind yesterday’s bloody attack in Damascus goes to IS. However, everyone who follows Syria closely has something else in mind - Assad’s (former) networks and Hezbollah.03 Jul 2026 10:20 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpqd4higac22https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpqbgveemc2d"The Trump family crypto firm that brought the president a windfall has also served as a vehicle for Pakistan to gain clout with the White House." https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/3/500m-for-trump-access-for-pakistan-how-a-crypto-diplomatic-bet-paid-off03 Jul 2026 09:50 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpqbgveemc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpq76prows2zThe Chinese government is offering rewards for the capture of spy turtles, which it claims are being used in an “invisible secret war” beneath the waves. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/china-spy-turtles-spy-fish-monitor-waters-claims03 Jul 2026 09:09 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpq76prows2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpq5ad3iok2y"Far-right groups that blend feminist messaging with anti-immigrant and anti-Islam views are using PayPal to process merchandise sales and donations, despite the company’s rules prohibiting transactions that promote hate or discrimination." https://www.ftm.eu/articles/far-right-groups-rely-on-paypal-to-spread-extremism03 Jul 2026 08:34 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpq5ad3iok2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpleuxbjxc2mJapan's Self-Defense Forces used USB drives containing a China-linked virus on computers with access to classified information for nearly a year. https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/cybersecurity/japan-defense-forces-used-usb-drives-with-china-linked-virus-nikkei-investigation01 Jul 2026 11:08 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpleuxbjxc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mpinyfcaqc2gOne of Netanyahu’s least-discussed allies, Vucic’s Serbia, will manufacture LANIUS-X. LANIUS-X is an AI-powered, drone-based attack system developed by Elbit & it functions as a maneuverable loitering munition designed to scout and engage targets in complex indoor and outdoor urban environments. https://vucic.rs/Vesti/Najnovije/a64719-Vucic-Vojska-Srbije-ce-nastaviti-da-jaca-vucic.rs.html30 Jun 2026 09:13 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpinyfcaqc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mp3smillok22Last month, an AI law firm that uses technology instead of lawyers to prepare legal claims won a case in the English courts for the first time. https://www.ft.com/content/b4f8f589-6771-4df5-ac4d-cb15d94991fb?shareType=nongift25 Jun 2026 06:31 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp3smillok22https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mozjprwsqc2y"...effort to outsource migration controls..." https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-countries-eye-setting-up-migrant-return-hubs-in-rwanda-and-uzbekistan/24 Jun 2026 08:47 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mozjprwsqc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3movcukudqk2b"Senior Somali official says 50 Israeli soldiers with African descent are in the breakaway Horn of Africa state as part of bilateral security arrangements." https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-deployed-troops-somaliland-after-recognition-official22 Jun 2026 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3movcukudqk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mouphcts2c2t https://www.ftm.eu/newsletters/criminal-investigation-into-huawei-lobbying-gets-torpedoed?share=kbMlYvNmSIvMIiaXEG3FS8yJ52sgDz1ahVPqdACYopMAyKp42yn0OYAib3WH8rQ%3D22 Jun 2026 10:46 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mouphcts2c2thttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3momrvwzs622lA Milanese aristocrat is suspected of paying to shoot people during the 1990s siege as magistrates across Europe intensify their inquiries. https://www.thetimes.com/article/e0d6d56c-12d3-4d1f-a1ee-df1ad72c481b?shareToken=fc9ab6a2ad928d6d2b30455119ffa11d19 Jun 2026 07:09 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3momrvwzs622lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mojezaewws24“For the past few years, stablecoins have come to dominate the landscape of illicit transactions, and now account for 84 percent of all illicit transaction volume.” https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2026-crypto-crime-report-introduction/?_bhlid=aa6250c317c4841e2d61759f44d7061c40fba4de17 Jun 2026 22:40 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mojezaewws24https://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3moij2hevlc2k"As Western sanctions attempt to choke off Russia from international trade, payment brokers are advertising services on Telegram to move funds through layered intermediaries." https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/there-will-be-no-trace-russias-sanctions-busting-middlemen-tout-services-on-telegram17 Jun 2026 14:19 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3moij2hevlc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3moiblwo2622pBecause Trump fixed the Middle East and the war against Ukraine, now it is Libya's turn. https://www.ft.com/content/f5c43a41-3fa1-486e-a592-7933bc1bdcbd?syn-25a6b1a6=117 Jun 2026 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3moiblwo2622phttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mo3z6ityc22i"On 1 May 2026, Spanish authorities seized more than 30 tonnes of cocaine from the Arconian, a Comoros-flagged dry bulk vessel intercepted off the coast of Western Sahara — the largest single cocaine seizure in recorded history." https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/the-arconian-operation/12 Jun 2026 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo3z6ityc22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mntz55bl5c2sRussia is taking drastic measures to prevent European countries from seizing shadow fleet tankers. @ftm.eu's latest investigation reveals dozens of Russian security guards with military, intelligence, and mercenary backgrounds aboard tankers carrying sanctioned oil. https://www.ftm.eu/articles/dozens-of-russian-security-guards-on-shadow-fleet?vgo_ee=nHIQKwCt7GVGAdOXojfDjGXW9BjxeSqihmPOpsSCtiB8hSs0:155EShcIU8Lxi4bwAzk0hKe9PgqedBSm09 Jun 2026 10:41 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mntz55bl5c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/ruslantrad.bsky.social/post/3mnnrowpij22sYes, of course, disinformation poses a threat to the integrity of elections! We’ve been saying this for YEARS, but it’s impossible to combat it with limited funds and a lack of political will. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-report-shows-misinformation-a-major-threat-to-election-security06 Jun 2026 23:12 +0000at://did:plc:7hr2jl452anzvxfdtvwitucd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnnrowpij22s