Crimean Bridge documentation 'leaked', Russian botnet eliminated: last night's highlights

Ukrainian intelligence has obtained detailed technical documentation for the Crimean Bridge, and the United States and its partners have "dismantled" a Russian hacking network that has illegally accessed millions of computers around the world. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.

Elimination of hacker botnet

The US Department of Justice, along with law enforcement partners from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, has liquidated a Russian botnet called RSOCKS, which has hacked millions of computers around the world.

Documentation of the Crimean Bridge

Ukrainian spies have obtained detailed technical documentation for the Crimean Bridge, which connects Russia and the occupied Crimea. It contains information about the terrain, road surface, bridge piers, anti-landslide structures and other infrastructure, and was made public here.

"Putin's inner circle declares 'guaranteed' security of the Crimean Bridge. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims that the Russian military is in full control of the situation. However, it is difficult to take seriously the statements about complete security from people who are not able to ensure the preservation of technical documentation of a strategic facility," the Defense Ministry said.

Readiness for a possible invasion of Belarus

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed to check in four oblasts the readiness for a possible renewed invasion from Belarus, said the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov. According to him, during the regular meeting, the Council discussed the events in Belarus, the state of the Belarusian army, the number of Russian troops in Belarus and their plans.

Russian spy at the International Criminal Court

An officer of the Russian Central Intelligence Agency under Brazilian cover tried to get a job as an intern at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, but was exposed.

The Dutch believe that the Russian could have made a significant contribution to the work of Russian intelligence — perhaps he would even been in a position to influence the trial.

"A lot of news" for Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "a lot of news" awaits Ukraine in the coming days. "And I believe that positive. I believe very much,"  Zelensky said, emphasizing that all this is possible primarily thanks to Ukrainian heroes who are defending Ukraine from Russian troops.

Macron does not rule out a trip to Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out the possibility of a trip to Russia, but stressed that he is not ready for this at the moment, as "preconditions" are needed, which are not yet met. "But I continue to talk to him (Putin - ed.), I do not rule out anything," he said.

US State Department does not believe that China is neutral

The US State Department believes that China's position on the Russo-Ukrainian war is not neutral — de facto the country has chosen to stand by Russia, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. In his opinion, China's statements on neutrality are "nothing more than a hollow statement."

US electronics in Russian weapons

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Commerce have launched an investigation to find out how American-made electronics appeared in Russian military equipement seized in Ukraine, including radars, tanks, and UAVs. The Washington Post writes that agents have already begun interviewing representatives of American technology companies.

A spokesman for the US Department of Commerce explained that the purpose of this investigation is to establish the ways in which products could enter the Russian military system after the United States began imposing sanctions on Russia in 2014.

False flags near Kherson are possible

Russian troops may carry out false flag attacks near the temporarily occupied city of Kherson, blaming Ukrainian troops for their own shellings. Thus, the Russians are trying to reduce support for local counter-offensives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, believes the American Institute for the Study of War.