Russia

Checkmate or stalemate: The global standoff between world leaders and citizens

From the beginning of 2023, the geopolitical landscape has been marked by a series of escalating tensions and civil unrest – evidence of deep-seated economic, political and social discord across the globe. Some analysts are questioning whether businesses should expect civil unrest on a global scale, which could significantly impact market stability and operational continuity. China’s …

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‘Silent Partners’ Part 2 – organised crime’s black market activities

A troubling and complex issue has emerged in response to the US-led sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Organised crime groups (OCGs), driven by their relentless pursuit of profit, have found fertile ground in evading these sanctions, resulting in a cascade of effects felt across the globe. This is Part 2 of an …

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‘Silent Partners’ – organised crime’s profitable collaboration with sanctioned regimes

Three decades after the conclusion of Cold War 1.0, the global stage is witnessing an unsettling revival of Cold War dynamics and tensions. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 was supposed to mark the start of a new era. However, relations between the United States of America, Russia, China, Ukraine, Iran, North Korea, …

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Prigozhin’s death – the cracks are beginning to show

Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death in August 2023 has sent shockwaves through the geopolitical community. The alleged founder of the infamous Wagner Group, Prigozhin, was also a Russian oligarch and close aide to President Vladimir Putin. The killing of Wagner’s leadership will have significant negative security consequences for the individuals, continents and countries caught up in the …

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The Bear Roars in Africa!

The Russian bear is on the move. Quietly. In Africa. Russia’s affair with Africa dates back to the Cold War era when, as the Soviet Union, it supported liberation movements and like-minded governments across the continent. At the time, it was considered the most influential of external actors. However, interest waned following the breakup of …

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Saudi Arabia: The coming of age

Saudi Arabia has come of age in the last few years under the stewardship of Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud (known by his initials, MBS). The kingdom has started to establish itself within the Middle East as a country with views that should be considered, listened to, understood and appreciated – despite the negative reputation …

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The shrinking earth…

The health of the rivers in Kazakhstan and the receding waters of the Caspian Sea are attracting the attention of environmental experts worldwide. A lack of snowfall, increased water consumption and a Russian hydroelectric power station are just some of the factors contributing to the problems faced by Kazakhstan’s rivers. In many other parts of …

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Destabilisation – the Kremlin agenda

KCS Group Europe has long talked about Russia’s attempts to infiltrate the governments of its border countries, many of which were once part of the USSR. We’ve seen issues in the Baltics, with politicians and individuals attempting to generate resistance to the current elected government by building opposition parties, all instigated and paid for by …

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The EU: House of Cards?

The gloss of the EU utopian ideal has well and truly tarnished. The EU-project has now come to mean very different things to different people. The Union now covers 27 countries, a combined population of around 447 million and a hugely diverse mix of cultures, nationalities, and social and economic circumstances. A white-collar worker in …

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The need for proactive investment in Cyber Security

In March 2023, Capita, a consulting digital services business, was hit by a cybersecurity breach. Compromised data from the organisation, which works with business and government, reportedly included individuals’ home addresses and passport images. Hackers were able to gain unauthorised access to Capita’s internal systems using a ransomware breach, through which less than 0.1% of …

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