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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Ukraine Says It Thwarted Russian Plan To Kill Zelenskiy, Top Officials RFE/RL 07 May 2024 -- Ukraine's SBU security service said it "thwarted" an assassination attempt against President Volodymyr Zelenskiy by a network of five Ukrainian agents linked to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB.
• Ukraine thwarts Zelenskyy assassination plot by Russia, says Kyiv counterintelligence VOA 07 May 2024 -- Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators said Tuesday that they thwarted a plan by Russian agents to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-level officials.
• Ukraine's Total Military Casualties in Donetsk Reach Up to 1,165 in Past Day - MoD Sputnik 07 May 2024 -- The Ukrainian armed forces suffered up to 1,165 military casualties in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the past 24 hours as a result of operations by the Russian armed forces, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Tuesday.
• Statement on Ukraine from the OPCW Spokesperson OPCW 07 May 2024 -- The Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been monitoring the situation on the territory of Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022 in relation to allegations of use of toxic chemicals as weapons.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as President of Russia President of Russia 07 May 2024 -- Vladimir Putin has been inaugurated as President of Russia in a ceremony that took place at the Kremlin.
• Putin starts new term amid tension between Russia, West Global Times 07 May 2024 -- Vladimir Putin was sworn in for a new six-year term as Russian president on Tuesday at an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin, marking the fifth oath of office he has taken since 2000. Chinese experts said that Putin's primary policy agenda will be maintaining the current high level of domestic unity while addressing Western sanctions.
• Putin sworn in for 5th term as Russia's president, begins 6-year tenure Press TV 07 May 2024 -- Vladimir Putin has been sworn in for a record-breaking fifth term as Russia's president, beginning another six-year tenure amid an unprecedented confrontation with the West over the war in Ukraine.
• Putin Inaugurated In Ceremony Marked By Western Boycott RFE/RL 07 May 2024 -- Vladimir Putin was sworn in as president of Russia for a fifth time on May 7, in a ceremony to kick off a new six-year term that was boycotted by most Western countries over his war in Ukraine and an election victory they rejected as being orchestrated to provide him a landslide result.
• Putin Takes Office as President of Russia Sputnik 07 May 2024 -- The Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow is hosting a solemn ceremony where Vladimir Putin is being sworn in as Russia's incumbent leader.
• Belarus Says It's Checking Preparedness Of Its Tactical Nuclear Forces RFE/RL 07 May 2024 -- The Belarusian Defense Ministry said on May 7 that it had started to check the preparedness of it tactical nuclear forces, a day after Russia announced a similar move.
• Belarus conducts checks on tactical nuclear weapons with Russia VOA 07 May 2024 -- Belarus said Tuesday it started checks on its army's readiness to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on orders of President Alexander Lukashenko.
• Belarus Starts Surprise Inspection of Non-Strategic Nuclear Arms Carriers - Defense Ministry Sputnik 07 May 2024 -- A surprise inspection of non-strategic nuclear weapons carriers has begun in Belarus, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

Foreign Policy

• Acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Timothy Musa Kabba Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 07 May 2024
• Acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to questions during a joint news conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Timothy Kabba following talks, Moscow, May 7, 2024 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 07 May 2024
• Press release on Acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Timothy Musa Kabba Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 07 May 2024
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 07 May 2024
• Fresh Arrests Of Americans Prompt Fears Russia Could Be Taking New Hostages RFE/RL 07 May 2024 -- The arrests of two Americans in Russia this month came against a stark backdrop: At least six U.S. citizens and one permanent resident were already behind bars in jails and prisons across the country, some serving long sentences and others facing trials that few believe will be fair.
• 2 U.S. Citizens, Including Soldier, Join List Of Americans Being Held In Russia RFE/RL 07 May 2024 -- Russian officials said two U.S. nationals were arrested in separate cases, including a serving army member, raising renewed questions over whether Moscow is targeting Americans to detain and later use as bargaining chips in prisoner swaps.
• US soldier detained in Russia; White House says 2nd American newly detained VOA 07 May 2024 -- The U.S. Army has confirmed that a U.S. soldier was arrested last week during an unauthorized visit to the Russian far eastern port city of Vladivostok, one of two recently detained Americans in Russia.
• Germany backs EU proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance arms for Ukraine Press TV 07 May 2024 -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the revenue accrued from Russian assets frozen by the European Union should be allocated for weapons purchases for Ukraine.
• All 5 Central Asian Leaders To Attend Victory Day Parade In Moscow RFE/RL 07 May 2024 -- All five Central Asian presidents are scheduled to attend a parade on Red Square on May 9 to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe in 1945, while the majority of the world's leaders continue to condemn Russia's ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022.

News Reports

• Executive Order on Russia's development goals through 2030 and for the future until 2036 President of Russia 07 May 2024 -- Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On the Development Goals of the Russian Federation through 2030 and for the Future Until 2036.
• U.S. Charges Russian National with Developing and Operating LockBit Ransomware US Dept. of Justice 07 May 2024 -- Alleged LockBit Developer Created and Operated Most Prolific Ransomware Variant Under Aliases "LockBit" and "LockBitSupp"; U.S State Department Offers Reward Up to $10M; U.S. Department of Treasury Designates LockBit Administrator for Sanctions
• LockBit leader unmasked and sanctioned NCA 07 May 2024 -- A leader of what was once the world's most harmful cyber crime group has been unmasked and sanctioned by the UK, US and Australia, following a National Crime Agency-led international disruption campaign.
• Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program Offer and Designation of a Senior Leader of Russia-Based Ransomware Group LockBit US Dept. of State 07 May 2024 -- The Department of State is announcing a reward offer under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Russian national Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev for participating in, conspiring to participate in or attempting to participate in transnational organized cybercrime as a leader of the LockBit ransomware group.
• United States Sanctions Senior Leader of the LockBit Ransomware Group US Treasury 07 May 2024 -- Today, the United States designated Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a Russian national and a leader of the Russia-based LockBit group, for his role in developing and distributing LockBit ransomware. This designation is the result of a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, the Australian Federal Police, and other international partners.
• UK and allies sanction prolific cyber hacker UK FCDO 07 May 2024 -- The UK, US and Australia have sanctioned the Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit.
• Russian hacker sanctioned by UK, US, Australia VOA 07 May 2024 -- Britain, the United States and Australia imposed sanctions against a senior Russian leader of the cybercrime gang LockBit, British and U.S. authorities said Tuesday.
• Rights chief urges Russia to end crackdown as journalist detentions reach all-time high UN News 07 May 2024 -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Russia to end its crackdown on journalists in a statement issued on Tuesday shortly after President Vladmir Putin began a fifth term in office.