Michael Novakhov – SharedNewsLinks℠ – In 50 Posts

Trump’s ear wound from an assassination attempt at a rally on July 13 quickly became a symbol of solidarity for many of his supporters, and a grim reminder of political violence in the U.S.

Trump’s team has largely remained tight-lipped about the ear wound, refraining from publicly sharing the former President’s medical records or conducting a press briefing at the Pennsylvania hospital where he was treated. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

But comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray on July 24 indicated there might be more the American public did not know about the injury. Wray suggested in congressional testimony that the wound may have been caused by shrapnel, while Trump and his former White House physician had said it was caused by a bullet.

Amid the ongoing public discourse, on July 26, the FBI released a statement directly addressing what struck Trump during the assassination attempt.

Here’s what we know about Trump’s ear wound.

FBI releases a statement

On Friday, July 26, the FBI released a statement addressing Trump's ear injury.

“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the agency said, per the Washington Post.

Trump issued a response via his own social media platform, Truth Social. Alongside a re-post of the statement, he wrote: "I assume that’s the best apology that we'll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!"

Wray said it might be from shrapnel

During a House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, July 24, Wray provided new details about the investigation into the assassination attempt and revealed that the agency is not certain the wound was caused by a bullet.

 “There’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” he said. 

Read More: America’s Political Violence Crisis

Trump has not released his medical records

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting in Butler, Pa., Trump was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital, but his team did not share details of his wound or care. Doctors at the hospital were not made available for a press conference or questions, and Trump has not released his medical records from the treatment. 

Former White House physician said it was caused by a bullet

On July 20, a week after the shooting, Trump shared a signed letter from former White House physician Ronny Jackson, now a Republican congressman from Texas, who released new details about the injury and claimed that the wound was caused by a gunshot wound.  

In the letter, Jackson said Trump had a 2 cm-wide gunshot wound in the right ear from a high-powered rifle. “There was initially significant bleeding, followed by marked swelling of the entire upper ear,” Jackson wrote. “The swelling has since resolved, and the wound is beginning to granulate and heal properly. Based on the highly vascular nature of the ear, there is still intermittent bleeding requiring a dressing to be in place. Given the broad and blunt nature of the wound itself, no sutures were required.”

He said that Trump received a thorough evaluation—including a CT scan— at Butler Memorial Hospital, and will undergo further evaluations, including a hearing test. 

Jackson slammed Wray on X after Wray’s testimony, saying it was “absolutely irresponsible” for Wray to suggest the injury may have been caused by shrapnel. “IT WAS A BULLET — I’VE SEEN THE WOUND!” Jackson wrote. “PATHETIC!!!

Jackson is a Trump ally and has come under fire in recent years after a Pentagon inspector general’s report revealed allegations that Jackson had engaged in “inappropriate conduct” as White House physician. 

Trump’s descriptions of the shooting

Trump has made some comments about his experience. On the evening of Thursday, July 25, he pushed back against Wray’s comments, asserting that it was in fact a bullet that hit him. “FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively “uneventful” - Wrong!” he wrote in a post on Truth Social. “No, it was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel. The hospital called it a “bullet wound to the ear,” and that is what it was.”

In a speech at the Republican convention on July 18, Trump, the Republican nominee, said that a bullet “came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life."

“I said to myself, wow, what was that, it can only be a bullet, and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down,” he said. “The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark and I would not be here tonight.”

In a social media post after the rally on July 13, Trump wrote, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

In a private phone call with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that was posted online, Trump said that in the moment, the object whizzing past him at the rally felt like “the world’s largest mosquito.”

Eric Trump, the former President’s son, told CBS News that his father has referred to the injury as "the greatest earache he's ever had," but that he did not require stitches and that his hearing is fine.

AI Review: Ilham Aliyev: personality assessment - g.co/gemini/share/c - Ilham Aliyev's Leadership Assessment Summary Assessing Ilham Aliyev's personality involves considering various perspectives, as his leadership has drawn both praise and criticism. Here's a summary of key points gathered from the search results: Strong Leadership and Determination:He's often characterized as a strong and decisive leader, particularly in matters of national interest, as seen in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.1 His ability to achieve strategic goals through long-term planning is highlighted.2 There are many that point to his strong abilities in geopolitical strategy.3 Political Acumen and Strategic Thinking:He's recognized for his political astuteness and ability to navigate complex international relations.4 His educational background at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations is often cited as a factor contributing to his understanding of global politics.5 Authoritarian Tendencies and Criticisms:Critics point to his consolidation of power and what they perceive as an authoritarian style of governance.6 Concerns about human rights violations, suppression of opposition, and limitations on press freedom are frequently raised.7 There are also many accusations of corruption levied against him, and his families holdings.8 Nationalism and Public Image:He has effectively utilized nationalism to garner public support, particularly following Azerbaijan's victory in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.9 Efforts to cultivate a strong public image are evident in his public appearances and statements. Inherited Political Legacy:It is important to understand that his political carreer began with the help of his father, Heydar Aliyev. It's important to note that perspectives on his personality and leadership vary, and these points represent a synthesis of information from diverse sources. - Ilham Aliyev: personality assessment - Bing: bing.com/search?q=Ilham Ilham Aliyev is most commonly typed as 1w9 (The Reformer, or The Perfectionist) in the Enneagram system.

This suggests Aliyev is principled, ethical, responsible, and self-controlled, and strives for integrity and high standards, often becoming perfectionistic and critical.

1. As an INTJ, Aliyev's personality type influences his approach to leadership by emphasizing strategic planning, logical decision-making, and independent thinking2.Learn more:1Ilham Aliyev Personality Type | Government Official MBTIHow to measure the efficiency of the Intelligence Agencies? How will the Trump's cuts affect the CIA? "In conclusion, while a simple "efficiency score" for an intelligence agency is unrealistic, a comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation framework that con

How to measure the efficiency of the Intelligence Agencies?

Gemini 

Measuring the efficiency of intelligence agencies is a complex endeavor, fraught with unique challenges not typically encountered when evaluating other government organizations or private sector entities. Due to the clandestine nature of their work, the sensitivity of their information, and the long-term and often indirect impact of their efforts, traditional metrics of efficiency, such as cost-benefit analyses or direct output measurements, often fall short.

However, a more nuanced approach can be taken by considering a range of factors and indicators, both qualitative and quantitative:

1. Outcome-Based Measures (Effectiveness leading to Efficiency):

• Prevention of Threats: Arguably the most critical measure. How effective is the agency in preventing terrorist attacks, cyber intrusions, espionage, and other threats to national security? This is difficult to quantify directly but can be assessed through:
  • Number of disrupted plots or attacks: While a significant indicator, it doesn't capture the full scope of deterrence.
  • Reduced impact of successful attacks: Were the consequences mitigated due to timely warnings or intelligence-led responses?
  • Expert assessments and after-action reviews: Qualitative analyses of how intelligence contributed to averting or minimizing harm.
• Strategic Warning: How timely and accurate is the intelligence provided to policymakers regarding emerging threats and crises?
  • Accuracy of forecasts and assessments: Evaluating historical intelligence products against actual events.
  • Timeliness of dissemination: Was the information available when needed for decision-making?
  • Impact on policy decisions: Did the intelligence inform and improve the quality of national security strategies?
• Support to Operations: How effectively does intelligence support military, law enforcement, and diplomatic efforts?
  • Actionable intelligence provided: Did the intelligence lead to successful operations or outcomes?
  • Relevance and accuracy of targeting data: In military contexts, this is a critical measure.
  • Situational awareness enhancement: Did intelligence improve the understanding of the operational environment?

2. Process-Oriented Measures (How efficiently are tasks performed?):

• Timeliness of Production and Dissemination: How quickly is raw intelligence processed, analyzed, and delivered to the relevant consumers?
  • Mean time to produce finished intelligence products.
  • Speed of dissemination through appropriate channels.
• Resource Management: How efficiently are financial, human, and technological resources utilized?
  • Cost-effectiveness of collection platforms and operations.
  • Personnel productivity and workload management.
  • Minimization of redundancies and overlaps within and between agencies.
• Information Management: How effectively is intelligence data stored, retrieved, and shared (appropriately)?
  • Efficiency of data processing and analysis tools.
  • Accessibility of relevant information to authorized users.
  • Security and integrity of data holdings.
• Accuracy and Reliability: What is the track record of the agency in producing accurate and reliable intelligence?
  • Low rate of errors or retractions.
  • High confidence levels in assessments, clearly communicated.
  • Effective validation and vetting processes for sources and information.

3. Trust and Perception-Based Measures:

• Public Trust and Confidence: While difficult to directly link to efficiency, public trust can impact an agency's legitimacy and effectiveness in the long run.
  • Surveys of public opinion (though these can be influenced by many factors).
  • Media coverage and public discourse surrounding the agency.
• Customer Satisfaction: Feedback from policymakers, military commanders, and other intelligence consumers regarding the utility and quality of intelligence products and services.
  • Formal feedback mechanisms and surveys.
  • Informal communication and engagement.
• Adherence to Legal and Ethical Standards: Efficient intelligence gathering should not come at the expense of legality and ethics.
  • Number of legal challenges or violations.
  • Oversight body reports and findings.
  • Internal compliance mechanisms and audits.

Challenges in Measuring Efficiency:

• Secrecy and Classification: The very nature of intelligence work limits transparency and the ability to use open-source data for evaluation.
• Long-Term Impact: The benefits of intelligence work, such as preventing a future attack, are often intangible and difficult to attribute directly.
• Complexity of Threats: The evolving nature of threats requires constant adaptation, making it hard to establish consistent benchmarks.
• Attribution Issues: It can be challenging to definitively prove that an intelligence action directly led to a specific outcome.
• Politicization: Intelligence assessments can sometimes be influenced by political considerations, complicating objective evaluation.
• Lack of Standardized Metrics: There is no universally agreed-upon framework for measuring intelligence efficiency across different agencies and countries.

Moving Forward:

Measuring intelligence agency efficiency requires a multi-faceted approach that combines quantitative data where possible with qualitative assessments and expert judgment. Emphasis should be placed on:

• Developing clear objectives and priorities: This provides a basis for evaluating whether the agency is achieving its intended goals.
• Establishing robust oversight mechanisms: Independent bodies can provide objective evaluations and identify areas for improvement.
• Promoting a culture of evaluation: Encouraging internal assessments and lessons learned.
• Investing in data analytics and technology: To better track processes and outcomes while respecting security constraints.
• Fostering dialogue between intelligence professionals, policymakers, and oversight bodies: To develop more effective and relevant measures of efficiency.

In conclusion, while a simple "efficiency score" for an intelligence agency is unrealistic, a comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation framework that considers outcomes, processes, and perceptions, while acknowledging the inherent challenges, can provide valuable insights into how effectively these vital organizations are operating and where improvements can be made.

https://g.co/gemini/share/68a03c21bfc6

(AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not.

In a preview of an upcoming interview with Russian state television, published on Telegram on Sunday, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a “logical conclusion.”

Responding to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, Putin said: “There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons … and I hope they will not be required.”

“We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires,” he said.

Putin signed a revamped version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine in November 2024, spelling out the circumstances that allow him to use Moscow’s atomic arsenal, the world’s largest.

That version lowered the bar, giving him that option in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power.

Russia and Ukraine are at odds over competing ceasefire proposals.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, in comments made public Saturday, that Moscow’s announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II is merely an attempt to create a “soft atmosphere” ahead of Russia’s annual celebrations.

Zelenskyy instead renewed calls for a more substantial 30-day pause in hostilities, as the U.S. had initially proposed. He said the proposed ceasefire could start anytime as a meaningful step toward ending the war.

Putin on Monday declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II, as the U.S. presses for a deal to end the 3-year-old war. The Kremlin said the truce, ordered on “humanitarian grounds,” will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10 to mark Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — Russia’s biggest secular holiday.

A Russian drone attack overnight on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, wounded 11 people, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Sunday. Two children were among the wounded.

The attack woke up Valentyna Fesiuk, an 83-year-old resident of Kyiv’s Obolon district.

“I was just sleeping when the house shook. It was at 12:30. An apartment on the 12th floor caught fire,” she told The Associated Press.

The car of another resident, Viacheslav Khotab, caught fire.

“I saw my car burning. I was covered with broken glass,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything.”

The 54-year-old was frustrated with stalled peace negotiations: “They can’t agree on anything, and we are the ones who suffer the consequences.”

Daryna Kravchuk, an 18-year-old student in the district, described how “five to six minutes after the air raid was activated, we heard a strong impact, everything started shaking. … There were three strikes almost in a row after the air raid was activated.”

“It’s very scary to witness, we have been suffering from this for so long. People are just suffering all the time. … It’s still very hard to see our country constantly being destroyed,” she told the AP.

One person was killed Sunday when a Russian guided bomb hit a village close to the border in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, regional Gov. Oleh Hryhorov said.

Russia fired a total of 165 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine’s air force said. Of those, 69 were intercepted and a further 80 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones overnight.

The White House plans to cut staffing at the Central Intelligence Agency by 1,200 positions while other intelligence agencies including the National Security Agency will also shed thousands of jobs, the Washington Post has reported.

A person familiar with the plan confirmed the changes to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration has told members of Congress about the planned cuts at the CIA, which will take place over several years and be accomplished in part through reduced hiring as opposed to layoffs, the Post reported on Friday. The cuts include several hundred people who had already opted for early retirement, it said.

In response to questions about the reductions, the CIA issued a statement saying its director, John Ratcliffe, was working to align the agency with Donald Trump’s national security priorities.

“These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position CIA to deliver on its mission,” the agency said in the statement.

A spokesperson for the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Gabbard’s office oversees and coordinates the work of 18 agencies that collect and analyse intelligence.

The CIA earlier this year became the first US intelligence agency to join a voluntary redundancy program initiated by Trump, who has vowed to radically downsize the federal workforce in the name of efficiency and frugality. The NSA has already offered voluntary resignations to some employees.

The CIA has said it also plans to lay off an unknown number of recently hired employees.

The Trump administration has also eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs at intelligence agencies, though a judge has temporarily blocked efforts to fire 19 employees working on DEI programs who challenged their terminations.

Trump also abruptly fired the general who led the NSA and the Pentagon’s Cyber Command, Tim Haugh.

Ratcliffe has vowed to overhaul the CIA and said he wants to boost the agency’s use of intelligence from human sources and its focus on China.

With the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse

PUTIN henchman and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is "preparing to flee Russia" - as he has put his son in charge of the police.

The infamous leader of Chechnya has already made several moves to prepare for his escape - and his efforts have sparked a conflict with Kremlin cronies.

The 48-year-old dictator is a vocal supporter of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, and has sent tens of thousands of troops to support the bloody war in Ukraine.

He has also been accused of violating human rights, including involvement in kidnapping and torture.

But relations between Putin and Kadyrov have soured in recent months, especially after alleged secret meetings between Kadyrov and Middle Eastern officials.

Local media reported that the Chechen ruler began "unsanctioned discussions" with officials from several Middle Eastern countries about his assets and family's future - without Moscow's approval.

The FSB security service officers informed a "furious" Putin, 72, about Kadyrov’s secret negotiations.

Kadyrov has reportedly already begun transferring assets abroad, with the leader's family recently acquiring properties in both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The Chechen leader spoke with "Muslim monarchies" who he has close ties with, according to IStories.

Putin likely sees this as a betrayal, even though Kadyrov sent troops from his private army when the Russian leader faced a coup bid from now-dead Wagner private army chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023.

After suffering from poor health, Kadyrov is hoping that his son will take over after him.

It is believed that the ruthless Kremlin-ally is suffering from severe kidney and pancreatic issues, as reported by Novaya Gazeta Europe.

But the brutal warlord does not trust that Putin will appoint his son as the next in line to rule Chechnya.

Kadyrov has appointed his 17-year-old son, Adam, as the head of the police, Chechen state media reported on Monday.

Reports said that the teenage boy had been appointed "curator" of the Chechen interior ministry.

Kadyrov has awarded his son multiple medals and appointed the teenager to a succession of posts, building him up as crown prince and heir apparent.

When Adam was aged 16, he was put in charge of his father’s security apparatus and given a leadership role at the Vladimir Putin University of Russian Special Forces, in Chechnya.

Leading investigative journalist Andrey Kalitin said Kadyrov senior’s health is now “very poor” with “tough decisions” over the succession imminent.

Kalitin said: “The Kremlin has two or three candidates.

“Ramzan Kadyrov has one. His name is Adam, he is 17 years old, he has more than 15 awards.”

Even if Putin appointed Adam, he would need a regency-style arrangement until he is 30 under Russian laws.

The boy won his father’s backing after he assaulted a prisoner accused of burning the Quran.

Kadyrov is believed to have amassed a vast fortune as a reward for taming war-riven Chechnya since taking over from his assassinated father.

Accused of human rights abuses, Kadyrov has boasted that he has been sanctioned more than anyone by the West.

Rumours have persisted that a bloated Kadyrov has “serious” pancreatic and kidney problems, with photos being carefully edited and never showing him below the chest.

The notorious leader also has a flashy online presence - last year he flaunted his Tesla with a machine gun bolted to its roof.

The Russian Republic of Chechnya is also known for buying Ukrainian prisoners of war and using them as bargaining chips for their own gain.

They buy captives from Russian military units, and use them in negotiations to swap with Chechen captives, according to RadioFreeEurope.

Kadrov's republic has also used POWs to get sanctions lifted.

In January 2024 Kadyrov offered to release 20 Ukrainian captives in exchange for the removal of US sanctions against his relatives and horses.

The speculation comes as NATO scrambled fighter jets after Putin unleashed a barrage of nuclear-capable bombers on Ukraine.

Russia struck central Kyiv as well as other location in brutal strikes which included kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles.

By Mazahir Afandiyev I AzerNEWS

At a time when the global political architecture is being reshaped—particularly against the backdrop of the new challenges brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution—every country seeks to secure its national interests by participating in global processes and managing its economic and political relations with other states.

Although many international organizations advocate for peaceful and dialogue-based solutions to global issues, recent experiences show that states with economic resilience and broad military-political capabilities have a stronger say in international affairs. In this new multipolar world order, the People's Republic of China has begun to play a more critical role, solidifying its position in certain regions and creating new opportunities for cooperation.

In Azerbaijan’s case, the foundation of friendly and partnership relations with China is linked to the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. During his tenure as First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, Heydar Aliyev held numerous meetings with Chinese representatives, being well-informed about China’s dynamics and development. These contacts continued successfully during Azerbaijan’s years of independence.

After gaining independence, mutual official visits between the two countries’ high-ranking officials further strengthened diplomatic ties. Heydar Aliyev’s official visits to China and meetings with its leaders laid the groundwork for future cooperation.

During his first official visit to China from March 7–10, 1994, National Leader Heydar Aliyev met with President Jiang Zemin and Prime Minister Li Peng. During this visit, a joint declaration on the fundamentals of developing friendly relations between the two countries was signed, along with eight agreements covering topics such as the opening of air routes, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, medicine, radio and television, and tourism.

These successfully established relations have been further strengthened over the past 20 years under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Since 2005, President Aliyev has made several visits to China. However, his state visit to the People's Republic of China from April 22–24, 2025, can be considered a historic milestone in bilateral cooperation.

As a result of bilateral and extended meetings with the President of China, a Joint Declaration on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Relations comprising 18 clauses was signed. This agreement opens new avenues for Azerbaijan—the leading country of the South Caucasus—to expand future cooperation with other states. In particular, the agreement on lifting the visa regime between the two countries increases expectations for the continued development of friendly and respectful relations.

As highlighted by the President in an interview with China Global Television Network during his visit, "Azerbaijan has signed strategic partnership declarations with many countries in the South Caucasus region and even some European countries, but the one with China is the strongest among them."

In the same interview, President Ilham Aliyev touched on all aspects of modern cooperation with China, clarifying various points of interest related to political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields for a vast audience.

It should be noted that China has succeeded in creating a new reality in the Eurasian region and globally over the past decade. Azerbaijan, too, aims to deepen relations globally based on mutual respect and trust. It strives to define new directions in line with the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while also working to attract investment and boost capital inflows into the country.

As the President emphasized, Azerbaijan possesses significant logistical capabilities in the North-South and East-West transportation corridors. The country is committed to being a reliable energy supplier and enhancing its trade turnover. This effort continues to deepen and diversify day by day.

Azerbaijan also joined the “Belt and Road” initiative, proposed by China in 2013 to improve infrastructure and connectivity across Eurasian countries. Within this initiative, a new trade corridor has been established to transport goods directly from East to West under favorable conditions.

Notably, Azerbaijan was the first country in the Caucasus to support China’s “Belt and Road” initiative. In this context, Azerbaijan plays the role of a logistics hub, junction, and bridge in implementing the strategy.

Thus, Azerbaijan's transportation and logistics advantages—critical for both the ancient Silk Road and the modern “Belt and Road” initiative—are clearly evident. The bilateral economic-political relations established with friendly countries, as well as Azerbaijan’s commitment, solidarity, and alliances demonstrated in international organizations, are valuable not only for our country and region but for the entire Eurasian continent.

We can confidently say that the direction defined by President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan’s multi-vector foreign policy is aimed at a prosperous future and reflects the intention to deepen relations with Eurasian countries—particularly with the People's Republic of China—in the fields of economy, politics, culture, and humanitarian cooperation.

Mazahir Afandiyev, the author is a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament

Во вторник Франция официально обвинила российскую военную разведку в кибератаках на страну на протяжении последнего десятилетия, включая взлом предвыборной кампании президента Эммануэля Макрона в 2017 году и атаку на телевизионную сеть TV5 Monde в 2015 году.

Об этом сообщает AFP.

"Военная разведка России (ГРУ) на протяжении нескольких лет ведёт кибератаки против Франции, используя хакерскую группу, известную под названием APT28", — заявил министр иностранных дел Жан-Ноэль Барро в посте в социальной сети X, впервые официально возложив ответственность за эти атаки на ГРУ.

В 2017 году газета Financial Times писала, что Российская Федерация мобилизовала хакерскую группу АРТ28 (другие названия - Pawn Storm, Fancy Bear, BlueDelta). Она известна своими атаками на французскую телевизионную сеть TV5Monde, частную военную компанию США Blackwater, Минобороны Франции, Венгрии и Госдепартамент США.

Специалисты по кибербезопасности США, Британии, Израиля и Германии уже тогда заявляли, что приказы АРТ28 отдает главное разведывательное управление России.

Москва категорически отрицает свое сотрудничество с хакерами.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is OSINT and Why is AI Important?
• Best AI Tools for OSINT Data Gathering in 2025
• How AI Improves OSINT Investigations
• Challenges of AI in OSINT
• The Future of AI in OSINT
• Conclusion
•  FAQs

Introduction

In 2025, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) remains a vital tool for cybersecurity, threat intelligence, law enforcement, and competitive analysis. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), OSINT data collection has become more efficient, precise, and automated than ever before. AI-powered tools can scan massive datasets, extract actionable insights, and automate intelligence gathering, reducing human effort while increasing accuracy.

From automated web crawlers to AI-driven social media analysis, facial recognition, NLP-based intelligence gathering, and deepfake detection, AI is changing the landscape of OSINT investigations.

This blog explores the best AI tools for OSINT in 2025, their functionalities, and how they assist intelligence professionals in gathering and analyzing open-source data.

What is OSINT and Why is AI Important?

Understanding OSINT

OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) involves collecting and analyzing publicly available data from multiple sources, including:

• Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
• News websites, blogs, and discussion forums
• Government databases and public records
• The dark web and underground marketplaces
• Financial reports, leaked datasets, and corporate disclosures

How AI Enhances OSINT

AI-driven OSINT tools offer several advantages:

• Automated data collection from multiple sources, eliminating manual effort
• Pattern recognition and trend analysis in large datasets
• Fact-checking and misinformation detection
• Image, video, and voice analysis for intelligence gathering
• Deepfake detection and cybersecurity threat monitoring

AI significantly improves the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of OSINT investigations, helping professionals track threats, verify sources, and extract intelligence with minimal human intervention.

Best AI Tools for OSINT Data Gathering in 2025

1. Maltego – AI-Powered Network Analysis

Maltego is one of the most advanced AI-driven OSINT tools for intelligence gathering and digital forensics.

• Uses machine learning (ML) to map relationships between individuals, organizations, and domains
• Automates data collection from public and private OSINT sources
• Commonly used by cybersecurity professionals, law enforcement, and journalists

2. OSINT Framework – AI-Enhanced Data Discovery

OSINT Framework is an open-source intelligence tool that integrates AI for advanced data discovery.

• Uses AI-driven NLP (Natural Language Processing) to extract relevant intelligence
• Automates deep and surface web searches
• Detects misinformation, security threats, and cyber risks

3. Shodan – AI-Based Internet Reconnaissance

Shodan is known as the "Google for hackers," allowing OSINT professionals to scan and track internet-connected devices.

• AI-enhanced risk analysis for IoT devices
• Automated vulnerability detection for cybersecurity audits
• Used by ethical hackers and penetration testers

4. SpiderFoot – AI-Powered Digital Footprint Analysis

SpiderFoot is an automated OSINT tool designed to analyze an individual's or organization’s online footprint.

• AI-driven data correlation from social media, domains, and leaked data
• Identifies security vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, and personal data leaks
• Used for cybersecurity threat assessments

5. Google Dorking – AI-Assisted Advanced Search

Google Dorking leverages AI to extract hidden data from search engines.

• Uses AI-based search queries to find exposed sensitive information
• Identifies unsecured databases, login portals, and forgotten web pages
• Commonly used by ethical hackers and security researchers

6. Social-Searcher – AI for Social Media Intelligence

Social-Searcher is an AI-powered social media OSINT tool used for tracking online activities.

• Monitors public conversations, hashtags, and mentions across platforms
• Uses sentiment analysis and behavioral tracking for intelligence gathering
• Helpful for brand monitoring, law enforcement, and crisis management

How AI Improves OSINT Investigations

• Automates Data Collection – AI eliminates manual effort in searching and filtering large volumes of data.
• Enhances Threat Detection – AI detects cyber threats, scams, and fraud attempts in real-time.
• Increases Accuracy – AI-powered NLP can analyze text, speech, and images with minimal errors.
• Reduces False Positives – AI helps distinguish between real threats and false alarms.
• Improves Decision-Making – AI-driven analytics provide actionable intelligence to professionals.

Challenges of AI in OSINT

Despite its advantages, AI-based OSINT tools face some challenges:

• False Information & Deepfakes – AI struggles to differentiate between real and AI-generated misinformation.
• Ethical Concerns & Privacy Issues – Using AI for surveillance and intelligence gathering raises legal and ethical concerns.
• Data Overload – AI may collect too much data, making analysis complex without proper filtering.
• Dependence on AI Accuracy – AI models require continuous updates to remain effective against evolving threats.

The Future of AI in OSINT

The future of AI in OSINT is expected to include:

• Advanced AI-Powered Facial Recognition for identity verification
• Autonomous AI Agents for deepfake detection and real-time intelligence gathering
• Blockchain-Based OSINT for securing data integrity and verification
• AI-Generated Threat Intelligence Reports for rapid decision-making

As AI technology continues to evolve, OSINT professionals will rely more on AI-driven automation, predictive analysis, and deep learning models to gather intelligence effectively.

Conclusion

AI-powered OSINT tools are reshaping the way intelligence is gathered and analyzed in 2025. From automated social media monitoring to advanced data discovery and digital footprint tracking, AI helps professionals detect threats, verify information, and uncover hidden intelligence efficiently.

While AI brings speed, scalability, and precision to OSINT, it is not without challenges. Ethical considerations, misinformation detection, and AI model accuracy remain critical concerns.

For organizations and cybersecurity professionals, leveraging AI-powered OSINT tools is no longer optional—it is essential for staying ahead in the intelligence and cybersecurity landscape.

FAQs

What is OSINT, and how does AI improve it?

OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) involves collecting publicly available information for intelligence and security purposes. AI enhances OSINT by automating data collection, analyzing patterns, and improving threat detection accuracy.

Which are the best AI-powered OSINT tools in 2025?

Some of the top AI-driven OSINT tools include Maltego, Shodan, SpiderFoot, Social-Searcher, Google Dorking, and OSINT Framework, each specializing in different aspects of intelligence gathering.

How does AI automate OSINT data collection?

AI uses web crawlers, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques to scan, extract, and analyze large amounts of publicly available information.

Can AI detect deepfakes and misinformation in OSINT?

Yes, AI-powered tools can detect deepfakes and misinformation by analyzing synthetic media patterns, facial recognition inconsistencies, and AI-generated text anomalies.

How does AI assist in cybersecurity OSINT?

AI helps in cybersecurity OSINT by identifying vulnerabilities, monitoring cyber threats, detecting phishing attempts, and analyzing hacker activities on dark web forums.

What role does NLP play in OSINT investigations?

Natural Language Processing (NLP) enables AI to extract intelligence from text-based sources, such as news articles, social media posts, and leaked documents.

Can AI track individuals and organizations through OSINT?

Yes, AI-powered OSINT tools can analyze digital footprints, social media activity, and network connections to track individuals and organizations.

What are the ethical concerns of AI in OSINT?

AI-driven OSINT raises ethical concerns related to privacy, mass surveillance, data misuse, and the potential for AI-generated disinformation.

Is AI-powered OSINT legal?

AI-powered OSINT is legal if used for ethical investigations, cybersecurity, and law enforcement purposes, but unauthorized surveillance and data scraping may violate regulations.

How does AI-powered OSINT help in law enforcement?

Law enforcement agencies use AI for crime investigation, tracking suspects, detecting fraud, and identifying cyber threats.

What is Google Dorking, and how does AI enhance it?

Google Dorking is an advanced search technique used to find hidden online data. AI enhances Google Dorking by automating queries and detecting exposed sensitive information.

Can AI detect fake social media accounts in OSINT investigations?

Yes, AI analyzes account activity, language patterns, and metadata to identify fake profiles, bots, and coordinated misinformation campaigns.

How does AI detect cyber threats using OSINT?

AI scans dark web forums, security reports, and hacker discussions to predict and prevent potential cyberattacks.

What are the challenges of using AI for OSINT?

Challenges include data accuracy issues, ethical concerns, AI model biases, reliance on public data, and difficulties in detecting sophisticated deepfakes.

Can AI identify security vulnerabilities through OSINT?

Yes, AI-powered tools like Shodan and SpiderFoot scan exposed devices, open ports, and unprotected servers to identify security risks.

How is machine learning applied in OSINT?

Machine learning in OSINT is used for pattern recognition, behavior analysis, anomaly detection, and automated intelligence reporting.

How does AI enhance social media intelligence gathering?

AI tracks trending topics, sentiment analysis, fake news detection, and user behavior monitoring across multiple platforms.

Can AI OSINT tools access the dark web?

Yes, some AI-powered OSINT tools scan dark web marketplaces and forums for leaked credentials, cybercrime discussions, and emerging threats.

What industries benefit from AI-powered OSINT?

Industries such as cybersecurity, law enforcement, corporate security, journalism, and competitive intelligence benefit from AI-driven OSINT solutions.

How does AI identify misinformation in OSINT data?

AI uses fact-checking databases, linguistic analysis, and AI-generated content detection to verify the authenticity of information.

Is AI OSINT useful for financial fraud detection?

Yes, AI detects fraudulent financial transactions, insider trading, and money laundering schemes by analyzing public financial records and market data.

What role does facial recognition play in AI-driven OSINT?

Facial recognition AI helps identify individuals in public images, security footage, and social media platforms, aiding in investigations.

How does AI contribute to open-source cyber threat intelligence?

AI enhances cyber threat intelligence by analyzing malware reports, hacker activities, and vulnerability disclosures from public sources.

Can AI predict future cyber threats using OSINT?

Yes, AI uses predictive analytics and historical data patterns to forecast potential cyber threats and attack trends.

What is the difference between AI-driven OSINT and traditional OSINT?

Traditional OSINT relies on manual searches and human analysis, while AI-driven OSINT automates data collection, enhances accuracy, and processes large datasets faster.

Can AI-powered OSINT be used for competitive intelligence?

Yes, businesses use AI OSINT to monitor competitor strategies, market trends, brand mentions, and industry news.

How does AI help journalists and researchers with OSINT?

AI assists journalists and researchers by fact-checking sources, analyzing large volumes of public records, and detecting fake news.

What are the future trends in AI for OSINT?

Future trends include AI-powered deepfake detection, blockchain-integrated OSINT, automated misinformation tracking, and AI-driven risk assessments.

Should organizations invest in AI-powered OSINT tools?

Yes, organizations should invest in AI-driven OSINT tools to enhance security, improve threat intelligence, and gain valuable insights for decision-making.

VATICAN CITY, April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, met one-on-one in a marble-lined Vatican basilica on Saturday to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine.

Zelenskiy said the meeting could prove historic if it delivers the kind of peace he is hoping for, and a White House spokesman called it "very productive".

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The two leaders, leaning in close to each other with no aides around them while seated in St Peter's Basilica, spoke for about 15 minutes, according to Zelenskiy's office, and images of the meeting released by Kyiv and Washington.

After Pope Francis's funeral service, Trump boarded Air Force One and departed Rome. While in the air he published a social media post in which he took a tough tone on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," Trump posted on Truth Social. Twelve people were killed on Thursday when a missile fired by Russia hit a Kyiv apartment block.

"It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!" Trump wrote.

Trump's post was a departure from his usual rhetoric which has seen the toughest criticism directed at Zelenskiy, while he has spoken positively about Putin.

In a post on social media platform Telegram, Zelenskiy wrote: "Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot. We hope for a result from all the things that were spoken about."

He said those topics included: "The protection of the lives of our people. A complete and unconditional ceasefire. A reliable and lasting peace that will prevent a recurrence of war."

Zelenskiy added: "It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results. Thank you, President Donald Trump!"

NO AIDES IN SIGHT

In one photograph released by Zelenskiy's office, the Ukrainian and U.S. leaders sat opposite each other in a hall of the basilica, around two feet apart, and were leaning in towards each other in conversation. No aides could be seen in the image.

In a second photograph, from the same location, Zelenskiy, Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were shown standing in a tight huddle. Macron had his hand on Zelenskiy's shoulder.

After Trump and Zelenskiy met in the basilica, the two men joined other world leaders outside in Saint Peter's Square at the funeral service for Pope Francis, who made the pursuit of peace, including in Ukraine, a motif of his papacy.

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who gave the sermon at the funeral service, recalled how Pope Francis did not stop raising his voice to call for negotiations to end conflicts.

"War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone," the cardinal said.

DIFFERENCES OVER TERRITORY

Trump has been pressing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree a ceasefire and peace deal. He had previously warned his administration would walk away from its efforts to achieve a peace if the two sides do not agree a deal soon.

After a round of shuttle diplomacy this week, differences have emerged between the position of the Trump White House on peace talks and the stance of Ukraine and its European allies, according to documents from the talks obtained by Reuters.

Washington is proposing a legal recognition that Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, is Russian territory, something that Kyiv and its allies in Europe say is a red line they will not cross.

There are also differences on how quickly sanctions on Russia would be lifted if a peace deal was signed, what kind of security guarantees Ukraine would have, and how Ukraine would be financially compensated.

Trump and Zelenskiy have had a rocky personal relationship. At their Oval Office meeting, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of "gambling with World War Three".

Since then, Kyiv has tried to repair relations, but the barbs have continued. Zelenskiy has said Trump was trapped in a "disinformation bubble" that favoured Moscow, while the U.S. leader accused Zelenskiy of foot-dragging on a peace deal and making "inflammatory" statements.

But the two men need each other. Trump requires Zelenskiy's buy-in to achieve his stated ambition of bringing a swift peace between Russia and Ukraine, while Kyiv needs Trump to pressure Moscow into diluting some of the more onerous conditions it has set for a truce.

At the Oval Office meeting in February, a reporter who was present from a conservative U.S. news network accused Zelenskiy of disrespecting the occasion by not wearing a suit.

Zelenskiy, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, has eschewed suits in favour of military-style attire, saying it is his way of showing solidarity with his countryman fighting to defend Ukraine.

In Rome on Saturday, Zelenskiy again decided against a suit, and instead wore a dark shirt, buttoned up to the neck with no tie, and wore a dark military-style jacket over the top of that.

Reporting by Steve Holland and Angelo Amante; Additional reporting by Christian Lowe and Andrii Pryimachenko in Kyiv and Alistair Smout in London; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Alexandra Hudson

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CNN  — 

Moscow has inflicted another round of deadly strikes on Ukraine despite US President Donald Trump’s plea for Russian President Vladimir Putin to “STOP!” attacking its neighbor.

At least eight people were killed in drone strikes across the country, a night after Russia launched its deadliest bombardment of Ukraine since the middle of last year.

A drone attack on the eastern city of Pavlohrad on Friday killed three people, including a 76-year-old woman and a child, and injured 10 others, Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said.

In southern Ukraine, two people were also killed in strikes on Kherson, the region’s governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said, adding the strikes targeted critical infrastructure and residential buildings. Two more people died in attacks on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, and one person was killed in Kharkiv in the northeast of the country, regional leaders said.

Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was the main target of Russia’s massive bombardment on Thursday, which hit several locations across the city, killing 12 people and wounding 87 others. Ukraine’s emergency services said on Friday that it had completed the search for survivors in the rubble of one residential block, hit by what Ukrainian authorities said was a North Korean ballistic missile.

The fresh round of attacks come after President Trump vented his frustration over the lack of progress on a peace deal on Thursday, saying he is “not happy” and urging Putin to “STOP!” the attacks, in a post on his Truth Social platform. Hours later, however, Trump said he believed both Russia and Ukraine want peace.

On Friday, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in Moscow for further talks with Putin on reaching an agreement.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow was “ready to reach a deal,” in an interview with CBS News on Thursday, but added that there were still some specific points that needed to be “fine-tuned.”

Earlier this week, Trump launched a new tirade against Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of harming peace negotiations, after Zelensky said it was against his country’s constitution to recognize Russian control of Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Any move to recognize Russia’s control of Crimea would reverse a decade of US policy and could upset the widely held post-World War Two consensus that international borders should not be changed by force.

As part of its mission to seal a peace deal to end the three-year war, the US administration has proposed recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, a move which diplomatic sources have told CNN has highly alarmed US allies in Europe.

The spat over Crimea is the latest in a series of very public disagreements between Trump and Zelensky.

Trump has insisted he has been equally as tough on Putin, but got defensive on Thursday when asked by White House reporters what concessions Russia had made in the conflict.

“Stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country. Pretty big concession,” Trump said.

“We’re putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that, and some people that are close to it know or he wouldn’t be talking right now.”

Jennifer Hansler, Alex Marquardt and Kylie Atwood contributed reporting

WASHINGTON — A survey of more than 500 political scientists finds that the vast majority think the United States is moving swiftly from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism.

In the benchmark survey, known as Bright Line Watch, U.S.-based professors rate the performance of American democracy on a scale from zero (complete dictatorship) to 100 (perfect democracy). After President Trump's election in November, scholars gave American democracy a rating of 67. Several weeks into Trump's second term, that figure plummeted to 55.

"That's a precipitous drop," says John Carey, a professor of government at Dartmouth and co-director of Bright Line Watch. "There's certainly consensus: We're moving in the wrong direction."

Carey said the decline between November and February was the biggest since Bright Line Watch began surveying scholars on threats to American democracy in 2017. In the survey, respondents consider 30 indicators of democratic performance, including whether the government interferes with the press, punishes political opponents and whether the legislature and the judiciary can check executive authority.

Not all political scientists view Trump with alarm, but many like Carey who focus on democracy and authoritarianism are deeply troubled by Trump's attempts to expand executive power over his first several months in office.

"We've slid into some form of authoritarianism," says Steven Levitsky, a professor of government at Harvard, and co-author of How Democracies Die. "It is relatively mild compared to some others. It is certainly reversible, but we are no longer living in a liberal democracy."

Kim Lane Scheppele, a Princeton sociologist who has spent years tracking Hungary, is also deeply concerned: "We are on a very fast slide into what's called competitive authoritarianism."

When these scholars use the term "authoritarianism," they aren't talking about a system like China's, a one-party state with no meaningful elections. Instead, they are referring to something called "competitive authoritarianism," the kind scholars say they see in countries such as Hungary and Turkey.

In a competitive authoritarian system, a leader comes to power democratically and then erodes the system of checks and balances. Typically, the executive fills the civil service and key appointments — including the prosecutor's office and judiciary — with loyalists. He or she then attacks the media, universities and nongovernmental organizations to blunt public criticism and tilt the electoral playing field in the ruling party's favor.

"The government would still have elections and would nominally be democratic," says Rory Truex, a political scientist at Princeton who focuses on China. "But those elections would no longer be free and fair."

While the vast majority of scholars surveyed say Trump is pushing the country toward autocracy, other professors strongly disagree. James Campbell, a retired political scientist at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, says Trump is using legitimate presidential powers to address long-standing problems. Campbell points to Trump's use of tariffs to try to push companies to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. In recent decades, economic globalization led to catastrophic layoffs of everyone from furniture makers in North Carolina to auto assembly-line workers in the Midwest as firms sent work overseas, especially to China.

"I think they've done an excellent job," Campbell says of the Trump administration.

Campbell adds that he thinks many political scientists may see Trump as autocratic because they don't like him or his politics.

"I think most of them are coming from the political left," he says. "There's a comfort in all of them getting together and saying, 'Oh, Trump's a bad guy. He's authoritarian.' "

NPR reached out to the Trump administration, which has yet to respond.

But many democracy scholars say the Trump administration is using tactics employed by autocrats, and they point to specific actions. For instance, Trump's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating all the major broadcast outlets — except for Rupert Murdoch's Fox, which owns the pro-Trump Fox News Channel.

The FCC is questioning how CBS edited an interview of Trump's 2024 rival, Kamala Harris, and whether NPR and PBS are complying with regulations on corporate underwriting spots. The FCC can revoke local broadcast licenses, which could damage the networks financially.

Princeton's Scheppele says this is reminiscent of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Orbán took aim at the business model of Hungarian media, which heavily relied on state advertising.

"Overnight, [Orbán] cuts all the advertising to the independent and opposition media," Scheppele says. "They all have a hole blown in their budget."

In another example, Trump has withheld or threatened to withhold billions of dollars from universities, including Harvard, Princeton and Columbia, citing concerns about antisemitism. Scheppele says Orbán also targeted universities that had been critical of his government.

"In the first two years, Orbán cut the university budgets by 40%," she says.

Another way to measure authoritarianism, according to Levitsky, is whether publicly opposing the government comes with a cost. He says — under Trump — it does. For instance, Trump has issued executive orders barring lawyers with firms he doesn't like from entering government buildings and representing government contractors.

Fear of government retribution is now spreading through society. A scholar who spoke to NPR for this story later asked not to be quoted, saying he feared the Trump administration might try to punish him by slashing research grants he's working on. In a recent NPR series on free speech, many people did not want to be identified by name.

But even some scholars who say Trump has autocratic tendencies think the American system should be able to withstand them.

Kurt Weyland, a political scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, says that so far the lower courts are checking Trump. He also says Trump does not have the overwhelming popular support that autocratic leaders such as Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele enjoyed and that was crucial to their ability to change their country's political systems.

For instance, Bukele, who met with Trump at the White House last week, has seen approval ratings over 90% and won reelection last year by a landslide. By contrast, a recent poll showed Trump's approval rating falling to 43% and he was reelected with just under half the popular vote.

"These populist leaders managed to engineer new constitutions that seriously concentrated power and that were the breakpoint that put those countries on the path toward competitive authoritarian rule," says Weyland, who wrote Democracy's Resilience to Populism's Threat: Countering Global Alarmism. "In the United States, that is out of the question."

Bright Line Watch conducted its survey in early February. It plans to put another in the field soon. Carey, one of the co-directors, expects political scientists to downgrade America's democracy even further.

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(TJV NEWS) Pressure is intensifying on Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key government officials move to oust him following deepening allegations of negligence and political misuse of his office. At the heart of the storm are the devastating failures that led to the October 7 Hamas invasion and the unfolding “Qatargate” scandal involving foreign money and influence in Israel’s political sphere.

Netanyahu’s spokesperson  Omer Dostri previously accused Bar of failing to act on critical intelligence that could have prevented the massacre. “Ronen Bar had the opportunity to retire with honor after his searing failure on October 7, as the outgoing Chief of Staff did,” Dostri said. “But he preferred not to attend the government meeting dealing with his case simply because he was afraid of giving answers.”

“Why, after you knew about the Hamas attack many hours before it happened, did you do nothing and not call the Prime Minister – something that would have prevented the disaster?” Dostri added.

The Prime Minister himself has reportedly lost all confidence in Bar, who remains in office despite calls for his dismissal from bereaved families, security officials, and senior lawmakers.

The government has filed a petition with the High Court to lift a temporary order blocking Bar’s removal, arguing that continued immunity for the Shin Bet head undermines Israel’s democratic structure and civilian control over security institutions.

“A period of immunity for the head of the service, during which the clear directive of the legislator is suspended, severely harms the realization of the goals of the Shin Bet,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), as reported by AllIsrael.com.

October 7: A Catastrophic Security Breakdown

The failure of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency to anticipate or thwart the October 7 attack is now central to calls for Bar’s resignation. Families of soldiers killed in the war say accountability must start at the top.

In a raw and emotional interview with 103FM, Tzik Bonzel, father of Sgt. Amit Bonzel who was killed in Gaza, spoke out after a face-to-face meeting with Bar:

“Had he lived up to his responsibilities and dealt with things properly, today Amit would be alive—and with him, hundreds, if not thousands, of Israelis.”

Bonzel described the encounter as deeply painful and said Bar appeared unprepared for the intensity of the criticism. “I demanded to know when he would resign and stop harming this holy organization,” Bonzel said.

“Qatargate” and Political Weaponization

Fueling the storm is the so-called “Qatargate” affair, in which Shin Bet allegedly uncovered that advisers to Netanyahu received funds from Qatar, a nation widely known for financing Hamas. Critics claim the prime minister is attempting to silence Bar to derail the investigation.

Left-leaning NGOs, including the Movement for Quality Government (MQG), have accused Netanyahu of politicizing the ISA and attacking law enforcement institutions. But the Prime Minister’s allies argue that Bar has weaponized his position, using the hostage crisis and sensitive information to shield himself from criticism.

“The Israeli government, which is in charge of the Shin Bet, has lost all confidence in Ronen Bar, who continues to cling to his seat while cynically using the families of the kidnapped,” said Dostri, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu’s Approach: Soft Pressure, Hard Questions

Though Netanyahu has largely refrained from personal attacks, his decision to invite Bar to join a security briefing this week was widely seen as a final olive branch amid rising tensions. That same day, the government formally requested the High Court lift its hold on Bar’s dismissal.

“If Ronen Bar had carried out his role as he is currently clinging to his seat, we would not have reached October 7,” Dostri concluded.

For many Israelis, the question is no longer whether Ronen Bar should go—but why he hasn’t already. As AllIsrael.com notes, the ongoing court wrangling and political defense of Bar are delaying overdue accountability at a time when public trust in the Shin Bet—and the entire security establishment—is at historic lows.

 In the eyes of Netanyahu, grieving families, and a growing number of lawmakers, Ronen Bar’s continued leadership is incompatible with national recovery, operational reform, and trust in Israel’s most vital security institutions. The question is whether Israel’s legal system will let the government act—or let this crisis fester furthe

The FBI has placed an analyst on leave whose name was on a list of alleged "deep state" actors in a book written by FBI Director Kash Patel, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News.

This was first reported by The New York Times. It’s unclear what reason the FBI gave for the move, and the agency declined to comment.

Brian Auten, a Russia expert, was the employee who was placed on leave. He was also among the FBI employees former FBI Director Christopher Wray recommended for internal discipline over in connection with the 2017 investigation into links between Donald Trump as a presidential candidate and the Russian government.

A later review by the Justice Department inspector general found no evidence that any FBI employee acted out of political bias in the Russia investigation.

Patel included Auten on a list of roughly 60 alleged "deep state" actors in his 2023 book, "Government Gangsters." Patel denounced the FBI analyst by name, writing: “The fact that Auten was not fired from the FBI and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.”

Patel also accused Auten of downplaying information found on the laptop of former President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden.

Patel has disputed that the list in his book is an enemies list. 

Patel has his own links to the 2017 investigation into ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and the Russian government.

At the start of Trump's first term, Patel worked for then-Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as a staffer on the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee.

In that role, Patel wrote a memo accusing the FBI of making mistakes when it obtained a warrant to conduct surveillance of Carter Page, one of Trump's campaign advisers.

Later in the first Trump administration, Patel served on the White House National Security Council.

The Trump administration for months has targeted FBI officials who worked on prosecutions of Trump or those who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In January, the Trump administration forced out six of the agency's senior executives and several heads of FBI field offices across the country.

A letter sent to those who were fired said their removals were based on their roles in the Jan. 6 prosecutions.

Later, in March, the Trump administration forced out the head of the FBI's New York field office after he urged employees to "dig in" in the wake of the January firings.

The disabling of over 20 missiles with the help of "active countermeasures by means of electronic warfare" may be a turning point in Ukraine’s electronic warfare capabilities.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Military analysts say Ukrainian EW assets were usually credited with disabling Russian drones but not missile systems.

ISW has previously assessed that Russia's strike campaign against Ukraine and Ukrainian adaptation to counter new Russian strike systems are part of a broader tactical and technological attack-defence race between long-range aviation and air defence capabilities.

Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, noted that the Russian missile strike on 13 January was similar to the strike that Russian forces launched on 8 January and in previous times. The Institute for the Study of War believes that Ihnat’s words indicate that Ukrainian forces can recognise patterns in repeated Russian attacks and, accordingly, introduce innovations and adapt to them.

Earlier: 

Over 20 Russian missiles and drones failed to reach their targets during Russia's combined air attack on Ukraine on the morning of 13 January because they exploded mid-flight, landed in unpopulated areas, or met with an effective response from Ukrainian electronic warfare.

To quote the ISW’s Key Takeaways on 13 January: 

• A recent video appeal by a Serbian mercenary addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin has unleashed discussions about an ongoing "clan war" within the Kremlin and the Russian information space against the backdrop of the Russian presidential campaign.

• In-fighting and factional dynamics within the Kremlin are not new phenomena and do not indicate the imminent collapse of Putin’s regime, particularly because power verticals are the foundation of Putin's regime.

• Russian forces launched a medium-sized drone, missile, and air attack against Ukraine on the night of 12-13 January using a strike package similar to recent Russian strike packages.

• Russian forces are reportedly increasingly using chemical weapons in Ukraine in continued apparent violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Russia is a party.

• A fire destroyed a large warehouse in St. Petersburg belonging to Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries on 12 January.

• Russian forces made confirmed advances near Kreminna and Avdiivka amid continued positional engagements along the entire front line.

• Russian forces may be forming air assault brigades within combined arms ground formations as part of ongoing large-scale military reforms.

• Russian officials continue to fund social projects in occupied Ukraine in an effort to integrate these territories further into Russia and create the veneer of an active civil society in occupied areas.

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When Ukraine received Excalibur artillery shells in March 2022 from the U.S. shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, it was immediately the military’s weapon of choice.

Thanks to their GPS navigation system, these expensive munitions had a high-precision flight trajectory and could be used in urban combat.

Fast forward one year to March 2023 and the Excaliburs suddenly started missing their targets.

Russian electronic jamming, which overloads a receiver with noise or false information, was blocking the artillery shells’ GPS, causing the ammunition to miss its mark.

Similar issues began to occur in April 2023 almost immediately following the delivery of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) guided aerial bombs and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System GMLRS long-range missiles, which can be used with U.S-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

To make matters even worse, Russian soldiers were also jamming communication with Ukrainian drones, causing both reconnaissance and strike drones to crash, land on the spot, or in the best case, return to base.

In a war where both sides have relied heavily on the use of all types of drones — so much so that this war has been dubbed the “War of Drones” — Russia’s jamming capabilities have presented a major challenge on the front lines.

Electronic jamming is just one example of electronic warfare (EW), an entire set of invisible weapons that use electronic means on air, sea, land, or space to obstruct and mislead enemy communications and electronically-guided weapons systems.

EW systems vary in size and form, from pocket-sized devices to truck-mounted radar arrays and transceivers. They can be divided into several types, which differ in their purpose, including:

• Devices for countering and suppressing the enemy's radio-electronic means (radio and satellite communications, radars, etc.), as well as guided missiles and kamikaze drones.
• Devices for protecting personnel, military facilities, and equipment from the influence of enemy EW.
• Means for detecting coordinates and information about the location and actions of the enemy thanks to the intercepted signals of communication channels.

Depending on their operational range, EW can be divided into: tactical (up to 50 kilometers), operational-tactical (up to 500 kilometers), and strategic (over 500 kilometers).

On the closest-range tactical level, there is also "trench EW" — radio-electronic devices that work up to 10 kilometers and are designed to cover small tactical groups from reconnaissance and FPV (first-person view) drones.

Russia has traditionally invested heavily in growing its EW capabilities, with development placed into overdrive as the full-scale war against Ukraine continues. As the front lines have stabilized, its military has been able to place large numbers of its EW assets where they can have the greatest effect.

In his controversial opinion piece for the Economist published in November 2023, now-former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi wrote that Russia’s superiority in the number of its EW assets was one of the main threats to the war turning positional, which is not in Ukraine’s favor.

"Along the Kupiansk and Bakhmut axes, the enemy has effectively created a tiered system of electronic warfare, the elements of which constantly change their location," Zaluzhnyi wrote.

Acknowledging the importance of achieving parity in EW, the Ukrainian government is also working to speed up the process to get new technologies onto the battlefield.

Russia’s dominance in electronic warfare

Russia's density of the EW systems it can deploy is thanks to years of investment.

Ukraine and Russia began the conflict with differing starting capabilities. Nearly 65% of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' jamming stations were produced during the Soviet Union.

Russia on the other hand has been particularly active in developing its own EW systems since 2009, partly as its response to NATO’s network-centric systems and as EW troops have become a separate branch of the Russian armed forces.

A separate branch of the Russian military dedicated to EW has existed since 1991, developing over 60 different EW device models with various purposes and ranges. This has allowed the country to do away with its outdated equipment almost entirely, Valery Zaluzhnyi mentions.

Russian forces' use of EW in Ukraine goes far back before the launch of the full-scale invasion.

During the 2014-2022 war in eastern Ukraine, Moscow sent propaganda and fake orders to Ukrainian troops and civilians by spoofing the local cellular network, probably using the RB-341B Layer 3 system, according to volunteer investigative initiative InformNapalm.

It also helped them find the location of the Ukrainian personnel who at that time mainly used mobile phones to ensure communication.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the imbalance in EW between the two sides had a minor impact.

Now, with the front line largely static amid positional fighting, Russia has positioned one large EW system along every 10 kilometers of the front line, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reported.

Russia’s Shipovnik-Aero EW complex, according to the RUSI report, is particularly effective at countering Ukrainian drone operations. The system has a range of 10 kilometers and can take control of a drone while simultaneously obtaining the coordinates of the operator's location with an accuracy of one meter.

It can then relay this information to an artillery battery that now knows where to aim to inflict the most damage.

At least three out of five Russian electronic warfare brigades, whose operators gained experience in Syria, are involved in the war in Ukraine, wrote Bryan Clark, director of the Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. This is not taking into account the specially trained company in other brigades.

Capable of operating at a distance of up to 300 kilometers, the Krasukha-4 is one of Russia's most advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems and the central element of its strategic EW system. The system is designed mainly for jamming airborne or satellite fire control radars.

Krasukha-4, which was too powerful and bulky to be useful during Russia’s initial offensive on Kyiv, is now being used in Donbas and southern Ukraine. It is able to disorient AIM-120 AMRAAM homing missiles and Patriot air defense radar stations and interfere with Ukrainian lines of communication, preventing Ukrainian forces from detecting Russian artillery points.

There are no developments of a similar level in Ukraine since strategic longer-range EW was not a priority direction for the Ukrainian military-industrial complex before the full-scale invasion.

Chinks in the armor

Despite Russia’s abilities on the battlefield to deploy EW, not everyone is convinced they are as superior as they appear.

"Russia has made this into a separate branch of the military and boasts of significant developments, but I constantly say that Russian EW is overrated," Anatoliy Khrapchynsky, military aviation expert and deputy general director of anti-drone rifle and EW company Piranha-tech, told the Kyiv Independent.

"Most of their developments are related to working in the areas known during Soviet times — navigation, suppression of radio signals, interception of communication frequencies, etc."

Khrapchynsky pointed to the shooting down of four Russian aircraft in May 2023 as examples of where Russian electronic warfare has failed.

In that downing, above Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, two SU-34 and SU-35 fighter jets and two Mi-8MTPR-1 escort helicopters were destroyed.

EW systems designed to protect aircraft from anti-air missiles with radar targeting can be installed on a fighter, but they are quite heavy, limiting the overall armaments the plane can be equipped with.

As such, it is helicopters that are usually equipped with powerful EW equipment and ordered to fly 10-30 kilometers from the front line to create obstacles for enemy radars in the bombing area until the aircraft completes its mission.

Russia’s Mi-8MTPR-1s are equipped with “Rychag-AV” stations, which were supposed to protect the fighters from being detected by Ukrainian air defense and their radar systems.

A similar situation was repeated with fighters at the front in the Avdiivka area. In five days in February 2024, the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed seven Su-34 and Su-35 fighters.

However, it is currently unknown whether Russians used escort helicopters Mi-8MTPR-1, of which they have less than 20, or whether the Khibiny EW system. It is attached to a fighter jet which, according to the Russian media, was specially modernized for the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s little-known, powerful EW system

Meanwhile, on a national level, Ukraine is developing a system designed to help it cope with constant Russian missile and drone strikes.

Named Pokrova, little is known about the system, but it appears capable of both suppressing Russian satellite navigation systems like GLONASS and spoofing them by replacing genuine signals with false ones.

It is also likely able to mislead missiles into believing they are somewhere where they are not, according to the Ukrainian military journal Defense Express.

Missiles have several guidance systems: a programmed trajectory, GPS control points, and a radar surface measurement system that compares the terrain with loaded data.

EW can create certain locations where the missile loses its sense of presence and cannot understand its coordinates.

As a result of suppressing these systems, the missile loses accuracy and fails to reach its target.

Pokrova was first publicly mentioned by Zaluzhnyi in his November 2023 piece for the Economist. Following Russia’s Jan. 13 large-scale missile attack, the Head of the EW Department of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Colonel Andriy Starykov said on air that the Pokrova system “is already working.”

Of the over 40 missiles launched by Moscow in the Jan. 13 attack, the Ukrainian Air Force said that more than 20 had failed to reach their targets.

At least some of them were diverted by electronic interception methods, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

"Over two years, the Air Forces were able to build a tiered defense that directly incorporated electronic warfare means, which includes both air defense and electronic countermeasures,” Khrapchynsky said.

“Due to the construction of the Pokrova, Ukraine managed to reduce the accuracy of spoofed missiles by 40%. This technology has matured for a long time, but the enemy is changing tactics and combining strikes, using more and more ballistic missiles.”

Khrapchynskyi also added that in order to more effectively protect Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from enemy long-range missiles and drones, it is necessary to build systems of low-altitude radar fields that could see such airborne targets even at a height below 500 meters.

From volunteer orders to state contracts

The technology race continues at the front line. Special tools for silencing enemy radio signals and conducting reconnaissance are needed for every unit.

Andriy Znaichenko, director of military tech company Kvertus, broadly categorizes electronic warfare systems into "large" and "small" EW.

The former includes complex systems with several special vehicles that detect radio emissions over large areas. The latter consists of portable stations, anti-drone rifles, and backpacks with radio frequency jamming capabilities to protect against kamikaze FPV drones.

"If we talk about 'large' EW systems, the Russians indeed have an advantage there. They have more of them. In the 'small' systems, we are making decisions that are no worse, despite the fact that their industry is scaling up its volumes,” he said.

In Russia, mass production mainly comes from the state's military-industrial complex and associated firms.

"Although their electronic warfare is not as strong as they would like it to seem, the Russians have one advantage—they have more quantity," Khrapchynsky said.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, developments are driven by private research companies, which face several problems, particularly in collaborating with the government.

Until 2022, obtaining certification and orders from the Defense Ministry took from two to four years. The procedure now takes a few months.

Znaichenko’s company specializes in the production of protection systems against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as electronic warfare and intelligence systems. He says that over the past year, his company has increased its production capacity several times.

"At the beginning of the invasion, we made dozens of anti-drone rifles, which were mainly ordered by volunteers. Last year there were hundreds, and now there are thousands of devices, mostly through government contracts," he said.

However, not all problems have been resolved. All Ukrainian companies depend on a flow of imported parts, particularly from China, often competing with Russian demand.

"We try to purchase quality parts (cables, connectors, feeders) from American, European, Taiwanese, and Korean sources, but in some cases, we cannot do so without China," said Khrapchynsky.

"At the same time, there still exists a paradoxical situation where I can buy five Chinese anti-drone rifles, two of which will not work, and import them without paying tax. Meanwhile, when a Ukrainian company purchases components, it pays taxes."

The Government of Ukraine has developed several laws to promote the modernization of the military, including the import of anti-drone guns and UAVs without duties and taxes when equipment is supplied under a government contract.

This was done so that middlemen don't receive excess profits. But it puts a tax burden on companies if they order components, rather than completed products, for a future contract or if the equipment is purchased by volunteers.

Another challenge is the need for more skilled personnel. Most military tech companies have open positions for hardware engineers and radio engineers.

However, the development of Ukrainian companies could benefit the industry even after the war.

Znaichenko, who recently returned from an arms exhibition in the Middle East, claims that the developments of Ukrainian companies have surpassed the vast majority of foreign ones and have export potential.

“Some of their solutions propose jamming frequencies in drones that have not been used in the war for two to three years. It will take them several years to catch up with us."