The New York Times: The head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, was one of the officers in an elite Ukrainian commando unit known as Unit 2245, which the CIA began training around 2016
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This unit captured Russian drones and communications equipment so that CIA technicians could repurpose them and break Moscow's encryption systems.
At the time, Kyrylo Budanov "was the rising star" of the unit, known for daring operations behind enemy lines.
In particular, the newspaper described how Budanov and a group of Ukrainian military officers dressed in Russian military uniforms sailed across the gulf by boat and landed in Crimea in 2016. They were met on the peninsula by elite Russian special forces, a battle ensued, during which there were fatalities on the Russian side (including the general's son), while the Ukrainians managed to get out by swimming to the shore.
The publication also wrote that after Budanov was shot in the arm in Donbas, he was invited for treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the United States, which was an "extraordinary step."
The operation in Crimea, according to the publication, angered the administration of then US President Barack Obama because of the crossing of "red lines".
Memorial to the fallen Moldovan soldiers of the Transnistrian War in Chisinau. Photo: Alexander Moisseenko
Thirty-three years ago, a ceasefire brought an end to the Transnistrian War—sometimes described by locals as the Russian-Moldovan War. Although the tensions officially ended in 1992, its consequences continue to shape Moldovan politics, society, and security — especially in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Finland is moving to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the decision comes as a direct response to growing aggression from Russia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has approved a set of controversial laws, including a “foreign agent” act aimed at NGOs and media. Critics say it mimics the U.S. FARA but is weaponized against dissent.
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