<h2>Harm to Ongoing Matter</h2>
<p>When the Justice Department released a heavily-redacted <a href="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/04/18/mueller-report-searchable.pdf">version of the Mueller Report</a> Thursday, the conversation quickly devolved into partisan bickering.</p>
<p>Only time will tell what the report means for the Trump administration. But what&#8217;s immediately clear is that concepts that were once restricted to fictional cyberpunk dystopias — from government hackers to botnet propaganda networks — are now mainstream enough to influence international politics.</p>
<h2>Black Boxes</h2>
<p>The readable text of the report details how Russia used social media, hackers, and other sophisticated techniques to try and sway the 2016 U.S. Presidential election in favor of Trump — efforts that reached millions of Americans and recruited others to actively spread their propaganda before and after the election.</p>
<p>Russians working for an organization called the Internet Research Agency created accounts on Twitter and Facebook, through which they reached millions — including many members of the Trump Administration, Trump&#8217;s sons, and Trump himself — while sharing pro-Trump and anti-Clinton messages, memes, and images.</p>
<h2>Personal Privacy</h2>
<p>Meanwhile, other Russian operatives were taking a more direct approach — by hacking into Democratic Party servers, releasing sensitive information though sock puppet personas like &#8220;DCLeaks&#8221; and &#8220;Guccifer&#8221; and giving stolen data to WikiLeaks. Just to make the whole thing a little more &#8220;Shadowrun,&#8221; they funded the operation by mining Bitcoin.</p>
<p>In the long view, the report might be less memorable for its specific claims than as a blueprint for the future of information warfare — and the strange ways technology can be used to manipulate and control populations.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/04/18/mueller-report-searchable.pdf">Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election</a> [<em>CNN</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on Mueller: </strong><em><a href="https://futurism.com/mark-zuckerberg-testified-congress-day-1">Everything You Need to Know From Mark Zuckerberg’s Congressional Testimony: Day 1</a></em></p>


International politics fell pray to information warfare.

The Mueller report confirms we're living in a cyberpunk dystopia

REDACTED

The Mueller Report, heavily redacted, describes a number of high-tech Russian operations designed to undermine and sway the 2016 Presidential election.

The Mueller Report Confirms We’re Living in a Cyberpunk Dystopia

Forget partisan politics. This is a dark vision of the future of digital espionage.

<h2>News Anchor Horror</h2>
<p>A humanoid robot TV news anchor named Alex read the news yesterday on Russia-24, a state-owned television channel. The silicone-faced anchor presented some run-of-the-mill updates — and even touched on a lurid case in which local authorities were hunting down a mayoral candidate who allegedly kicked a homeless cat.</p>
<p>The unsettling humanoid TV anchor was built by Russian startup Promobot. So far, the company has mostly produced screen-faced service robots for local banks. Alex&#8217;s terrifying silicone face moves thanks to 29 motors, and is modeled to look like the company&#8217;s founder Alexei Yuzhakov, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/17/robot-newscaster-unsettles-russian-state-tv-viewers/">according to <em>The Telegraph</em></a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/promobot-company-founder-alexei-yuzhakov-at-the-2018-news-photo/1065835392">You can be the judge</a> whether it&#8217;s a good likeness.</p>
<h2>Bad Robot</h2>
<p>In a similar — yet unrelated — example of Russian robotics on state TV, Russia-24 showed footage a humanoid robot called &#8220;Robot Boris&#8221; on stage at a youth forum about robotics in December 2018. The twist: it turned out to be a <a href="https://futurism.com/russian-state-tv-man-in-suit-hi-tech-robot">man in a suit</a>.</p>
<p>Alex is definitely a robot though. Or at least we hope he is.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/17/robot-newscaster-unsettles-russian-state-tv-viewers/">Robot newscaster unsettles Russian state TV viewers</a> [<em>The Telegraph</em>]<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>More on Russian robots:</strong><em><a href="https://futurism.com/russian-state-tv-man-in-suit-hi-tech-robot">Russian TV Tried to Pass a Man in a Suit off as A High Tech Robot</a></em></p>


The robot dubbed Alex spoke of a rather peculiar case in which local authorities were hunting down a suspect that supposedly kicked a homeless cat.

Russia built a grotesque robot newscaster to read the news

Bad Robot

A humanoid robot TV news anchor dubbed Alex just read the news of the day on Russia 24, a state-owned television channel.

Russia Built a Grotesque Robot Newscaster and Put It on TV

A robot TV anchor accused a mayoral candidate of kicking a homeless cat. 

<h2>Super Soldiers</h2>
<p>According to <a href="http://sc.mil.ru/files/morf/military/archive/AS_02_2019.pdf">a report</a> in the official magazine of its Defense Ministry, Russian &#8220;supersoldiers&#8221; are able to use &#8220;parapsychology&#8221; techniques to crash enemy computers, access the minds of foreign soldiers, and read documents inside locked safes — abilities they gained, according to the article, from telepathic dolphins they can now communicate with.</p>
<p>The report is almost certainly nonsense. But it does raise questions about the ambitions — and perhaps dysfunctions — of Russia&#8217;s military.</p>
<h2>Telepathy Force</h2>
<p>The report refers to the supposed super powers as &#8220;metacontact&#8221; and &#8220;parapsychology&#8221; — the latter a term often invoked to describe mental abilities that don&#8217;t quite hold up to the scientific method. Russia discovered those techniques, according to the article, by studying telepathic dolphins.</p>
<p>&#8220;With an effort of thought, you can, for example, shoot down computer programs, burn crystals in generators, eavesdrop on a conversation, or break television and radio programs and communications,&#8221; reads the article, according to <em>Business Insider</em>&#8216;s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-troops-telepathy-crash-computers-defense-ministry-says-2019-4">translation</a>.</p>
<h2>Domestic Resistance</h2>
<p><em>Business Insider</em> also dug up an interview with the chairman of a commission on pseudoscience at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yevgeny Alexandrov, who <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/politics/03/04/2019/5ca48a0c9a794775e7a3a6fd">dismissed the story</a> to a Russian news outlet called <em>RBK.</em></p>
<p>&#8220;All the talk about the transfer of thought at a distance does not have a scientific basis,&#8221; he said, adding that &#8220;there is not a single such recorded case, it is simply impossible.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-troops-telepathy-crash-computers-defense-ministry-says-2019-4">A Russian defense ministry report claims its elite soldiers can crash computers with their minds and read documents inside a safe after mastering telepathy from dolphins</a> [<em>Business Insider</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on telepathy: </strong><em><a href="https://futurism.com/science-brings-us-one-step-closer-to-telepathy">Science Brings Us One Step Closer to Telepathy</a></em></p>


"With an effort of thought, you can, for example, shoot down computer programs."

Russia says "super soldiers" can crash computers with telepathy

Scary Thought

Russia's military says that its "super soldiers" are able to use "parapsychology" techniques to crash computers with telepathy they learned from dolphins.

Russia Says “Super Soldiers” Can Crash Computers With Telepathy

They reportedly learned parapsychology warfare techniques by studying telepathic dolphins.

<h2>Death From Above</h2>
<p>Earlier this year, Russian weapons manufacturer Almaz-Antey filed a patent for a new drone that was little more than a shotgun with wings.</p>
<p>When <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-military-drone-built-in-rifle">Futurism first reported on the drone</a>, details were scarce. But now, video footage of flight tests has surfaced showing the drone — which looks like a murderous model plane ­— in action.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v5q--PYfs8Q?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Balancing Act</h2>
<p>The drone carries a 12-caliber Vepr-12 semi-automatic shotgun, <em><a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/us/russia-flying-rifle-drone,news-29765.html">Tom&#8217;s Guide </a></em><a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/us/russia-flying-rifle-drone,news-29765.html">reports</a>. One might justifiably expect the recoil of a shotgun blast to send a drone veering off course, but that doesn&#8217;t seem to be the case.</p>
<p>Scientists from the Moscow Aviation Institute who worked on the drone <a href="https://mai.ru/press/news/detail.php?ID=102186">published a press release</a> saying that the drone can continue on its path after firing, and that its electric battery allows for 40 minutes of uninterrupted flight.</p>
<h2>Human Touch</h2>
<p>Video footage shows the drone taking off and landing with its nose — and barrel — pointed straight into the air.</p>
<p>But when all else fails, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXekPeTiDUo">a video shows</a> that a human can remove the drone&#8217;s wings and shoot it just like any other shotgun.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jXekPeTiDUo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/us/russia-flying-rifle-drone,news-29765.html">Watch Russia’s Flying Rifle In Action For the First Time Ever</a> [<em>Tom&#8217;s Guide</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on the shotgun drone: </strong><em><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-military-drone-built-in-rifle">Russian Arms Maker Invents Drone With Built-in Rifle</a></em></p>


Watch Russia's new shotgun-wielding drone in action

Typical Day In Russia

Russia's weapon maker Almaz-Antey built a drone that can fire a semi-automatic 12 caliber shotgun. Video footage shows the thing in action.

Watch Russia’s New Shotgun-Wielding Drone in Action

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a shotgun with wings!

<h2>BattleBots</h2>
<p>The Russian military&#8217;s research division is working to develop ground-based, combat-ready robots to assist its infantry.</p>
<p>The heavily-armed robots, first displayed in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYuDHphx1M&amp;feature=youtu.be">state-produced video</a> last month, resemble miniature tanks that can be deployed alongside infantry or swarms of quadrotor drones — either of which, <a href="https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2019/03/04/russias-new-robot-is-a-combat-platform-with-drone-scouts/?fbclid=IwAR1d-ymFrW7r4Rhsok-5FhpqjTM1OJqjbsSmAr9S10HxF9-ebIigR8nxhKQ">according to <em>C4ISRNET</em></a>, can send targeting information back to the killer robot.</p>
<h2>Increasingly Independent</h2>
<p>For now, the robots will still require significant human intervention, with a soldier selecting targets for the tank or remotely controlling it from afar. But Russia&#8217;s Advanced Research Foundation, the military research division behind this new technology, told <em>C4ISRNET</em> that the ultimate goal is to hand off those responsibilities to artificial intelligence algorithms as soon as possible.</p>
<p>“The evolution of combat robots is on the path of increasing the ability to perform tasks in autonomous mode with a gradual reduction in the role of the operator,&#8221; a spokesperson told <em>C4ISRNET</em>.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HfYuDHphx1M?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Arms Race</h2>
<p>Russia isn&#8217;t the only country building semi-autonomous weapons — The U.S. is developing <a href="https://futurism.com/us-navy-autonomous-killer-robot-ships">weaponized autonomous boats</a> and the U.K. has a program in place to build <a href="https://futurism.com/uk-autonomous-killer-robots">autonomous killer drones</a>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, many other nations have called for a <a href="https://futurism.com/un-discusses-banning-killer-robots">ban on autonomous weapons</a>, insisting that a human must always be the one to pull the trigger. Judging by Russia&#8217;s new video, in which a semi-autonomous robot tank literally does donuts in the snow, that international ban may not mean all that much.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2019/03/04/russias-new-robot-is-a-combat-platform-with-drone-scouts/?fbclid=IwAR1d-ymFrW7r4Rhsok-5FhpqjTM1OJqjbsSmAr9S10HxF9-ebIigR8nxhKQ">Russian system uses infantry to spot for robots</a> [<em>C4ISRNET</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on military robots</strong>: <em><a href="https://futurism.com/us-navy-autonomous-killer-robot-ships">The U.S. Navy Wants to Roll out Autonomous Killer Robot Ships</a></em></p>


Russia is planning a "ground force" of armed military robots

War Machine

Russia is working to develop a ground force of killer robots. For now, the tank-like bots need help from humans, but that may change as AI improves.

Russia Is Planning A “Ground Force” of Armed Military Robots

Here's a Kremlin video showing the human soldiers and killer robots working side by side.

<h2>Counterfeit Treaty</h2>
<p>Representatives from 25 countries around the world are currently meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to formulate international laws to prevent space-based conflict.</p>
<p>But the meetings, which will continue through March 28, hit a roadblock when the U.S. representative accused China and Russia of undermining the entire process by developing anti-satellite weaponry, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20190319-us-accuses-russia-china-undermining-space-peace-push">according to <em>France 24</em></a> — a bad omen for the militarization of space.</p>
<h2>Aggressive Negotiations</h2>
<p>&#8220;How can we believe [Russia is] serious about <a href="https://futurism.com/space-force-arms-race">preventing an arms race</a> in outer space when they are the ones that are developing ground-launched anti-satellite weapons?&#8221; U.S. assistant secretary of state Yleem Poblete said during the meetings. She also said that Russia was trying to build lasers capable of disabling satellites.</p>
<p>These tensions and accusations, which Poblete also levied against China, may cause serious problems because the international effort will only publish a report with new international rules if all 25 nations unanimously agree to them.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is difficult to determine the truthfulness of China&#8217;s concern about the prevention of an arms race in space,&#8221; Poblete said.</p>
<h2>Lack of Faith</h2>
<p>For all of Poblete&#8217;s accusations, the U.S. is working just as hard as Russia and China to develop militarized space technology — including <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/pentagon-orbital-space-weapon">orbital laser weapons</a> plucked straight out of science fiction.</p>
<p>While disarming countries&#8217; space programs and making sure that civilian satellites are protected during any future conflicts is a reasonable and seemingly simple goal, it may be the case that Russia, China, and the U.S. are more concerned with getting a leg up on one another to truly pursue disarmament.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20190319-us-accuses-russia-china-undermining-space-peace-push">US accuses Russia, China of undermining space peace push</a> [<em>France 24</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on space law</strong>: <em><a href="https://futurism.com/universities-space-law">These Four Universities Are Trying to Figure Out Space Law</a></em></p>


But the U.S. representative is coming in guns blazing.

25 governments are meeting right now to prevent a space arms race

All Batteries Fire

Leaders from 25 nations, including China, Russia, and the U.S. are currently meeting in Geneva to draft laws that would prevent a space arms race.

25 Governments Are Meeting Right Now to Prevent a Space Arms Race

The U.S. just accused China and Russia of developing anti-satellite weaponry.

<h2>Is it a Bird? Is it a Drone?</h2>
<p>A <a href="http://new.fips.ru/registers-doc-view/fips_servlet?DB=RUDE&amp;rn=7676&amp;DocNumber=113562&amp;QID=504E2C67-B95A-4BFD-BBCA-385FFC46BF01&amp;TypeFile=html">February 2018 patent</a> filed with the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property suggest that Russian arms maker Almaz-Antey has invented a flying drone that features a rifle reminiscent of Kalashnikov&#8217;s iconic AK-47.</p>
<p>Details are predictably sparse: a <a href="http://www1.fips.ru/wps/portal/ofic_pub_en/#page=document&amp;type=doc&amp;tab=PO&amp;id=899E1A96-941A-42C0-9BD9-624DBE297BF5">series of images</a> show an extremely rudimentary design, featuring a center fuselage with a built-in rifle section and a plane-like wing design — but it evokes a terrifying vision of the future of warfare in which small, expendable drones can pepper enemy troops with small-arms fire.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-154766" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2019/03/drone2.png" alt="" width="1000" height="569" /></p>
<h2>A Real Headscratcher</h2>
<p>What&#8217;s not clear at all is how the drone is powered. The images show no clear method of propulsion, motor or rotors.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s also not entirely clear what firearm the bizarre contraption features. <a href="https://www.c4isrnet.com/newsletters/unmanned-systems/2019/03/18/russia-working-on-flying-gun-drone/"><em>C4isrnet </em>suggests</a> it&#8217;s a Vepr 12 shotgun, a variant of the AK rifle series. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-patent-shows-plans-for-a-ridiculous-flying-ak-47-drone-2019-3"><em>Business Insider</em> suggests</a> it&#8217;s a &#8220;completely standard Kalashnikov rifle, with a standard banana-shaped magazine that extends conspicuously from the bottom of the airframe.&#8221;</p>
<p>And then there is the question of how long the drone could sustain itself mid-flight or what kind of magazine it could hold. <em>Business Insider</em> points out that &#8220;each drone gun likely wouldn&#8217;t hold more than 30 rounds.&#8221;</p>
<h2>Drone Army</h2>
<p>In February, Kalashnikov <a href="https://kalashnikovgroup.ru/press-center/news/kontsern_-kalashnikov-_razrabotal_vysokotochnyy_udarnyy_bespilotnyy_kompleks_-kub-bla">unveiled</a> a small drone that’s meant to destroy remote ground targets from a distance of up to 40 miles (64 km) away — by blowing itself up like a suicide bomber.</p>
<p>Belarus military forces also showed off a quadcopter drone that can carry a tank-killing rocket launcher, <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a21086194/belarus-invents-tank-killing-quadcopter-drone/"><em>Popular Mechanics</em> reported</a> in June 2018.</p>
<p>Perhaps Almaz-Antey&#8217;s odd patent is simply to get a foot in the door of what might eventually — given enough time — turn into a tactical advantage in the battle field. But it seems unlikely it will look anything like this.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-patent-shows-plans-for-a-ridiculous-flying-ak-47-drone-2019-3">Russian patent shows plans for what looks like a ridiculous flying AK-47 assault rifle</a> [<em>Business Insider</em>]<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>More on Russian drones: </strong><em><a href="https://futurism.com/kalashnikov-suicide-drone-kyb-uav">The Maker of AK-47 Rifles Just Unveiled a “Suicide Drone”</a></em></p>


Is that an AK-47 sticking out of that drone?

Russian arms maker invents drone with built-in rifle

AK-47 Drone

A 2018 patent suggests a Russian arms maker has invented a flying drone that features a rifle that's very reminiscent of Kalashnikov's iconic AK-47.

Russian Arms Maker Invents Drone With Built-In Rifle

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it an AK-47 rifle strapped to a drone?

<h2>&#8220;Barf-Inducing Lights&#8221;</h2>
<p>A non-lethal Russian weapon called the Filin 5P-42 system picked up a run of <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/russian-ship-vomit-uk-coast-weapon-a8810906.html">press coverage</a> by Western media last month — including <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-weapon-navy-hallucinate">by Futurism</a> — reporting that the Russian Navy is &#8220;<a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a26134880/the-russian-navy-is-fitting-ships-with-barf-inducing-lights/">fitting ships with barf-inducing lights</a>.&#8221;</p>
<p>Now, new details are emerging about the weapon. Russian state-owned news agency <em>Sputnik News</em> <a href="https://sputniknews.com/military/201903171073319735-filin-light-weapon-details/">confirmed yesterday</a> that the Russian Navy is developing a &#8220;new non-lethal light-based optical interference system,&#8221; quoting a retired colonel who said it causes &#8220;hallucinatory symptoms&#8221; — and which could provide a &#8220;significant tactical advantage&#8221; to Russian special forces, according to the weapon&#8217;s developer.</p>
<h2>Dizzying Flashes</h2>
<p>The Filin is capable of firing powerful flashes of light that are intended to impair enemy equipment, according to <em>Sputnik</em> — and can even induce nausea and disorientation.</p>
<p>Last week, Russian Ministry of Defense-owned TV network <em>Zvezda</em> <a href="https://sputniknews.com/military/201903101073108588-russian-optical-weapon/">aired footage</a> of a test &#8220;firing&#8221; of the 5P-42 system. According to <em>Sputnik</em>, the system is capable of blinding night vision equipment and scopes within a 3.1 mile (5 km) range and blinding or disorienting enemy troops within 1.24 miles (2 km).</p>
<h2>Always Wear Eye Protection</h2>
<p>Representatives of Roselectronics, the weapon&#8217;s developer, <a href="https://sputniknews.com/military/201903171073319735-filin-light-weapon-details/">told <em>Sputnik</em></a> that engineers are working on modifications and upgrading the range of the existing system. The system &#8220;does not result in a permanent loss of vision, but reduces firing effectiveness by 300-500 percent,&#8221; according to developer, but works more as a &#8220;system of protection against weapons&#8221; that &#8220;may cause some hallucinatory symptoms.&#8221;</p>
<p>An official also revealed that a &#8220;weaker&#8221; version of the system could also be used by the &#8220;civilian market, including use by large companies for security or for guarded facilities.&#8221;</p>
<p>Of course, these details should be taken with a grain of salt — so far, most information about the Filin have come from state-owned sources.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://sputniknews.com/military/201903171073319735-filin-light-weapon-details/">What Russia&#8217;s Filin Light-Based &#8216;Weapon of Mass Disorientation&#8217; is Capable Of</a> [<em>Sputnik News</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on the Filin:</strong> <em><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-weapon-navy-hallucinate">Russian Navy says new weapon makes enemies hallucinate</a></em></p>


Last week, state-owned TV network Zvezda aired footage of a test "firing" of the system.

Russian Military confirms new weapon causes "hallucinatory symptoms"

Barf Cannon

Russian media confirmed yesterday that the Russian Navy is developing a "new non-lethal light-based optical interference system" that could blind enemies.

Russian Military Confirms New Weapon Causes “Hallucinatory Symptoms”

The Russian military is confirming that reports of a strange new weapon are true.

<h2>Nuclear Upgrade</h2>
<p>Russia is about to start testing the &#8220;Belgorod,&#8221; a nuclear submarine that will be the largest in the world — and capable of launching <a href="https://futurism.com/this-is-what-nuclear-warfare-will-do-to-our-planet">six thermonuclear warheads</a>.</p>
<p>When the Belgorod was <a href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2017/05/russias-new-military-research-submarine-arctic-waters-will-be-worlds-largest">first reported</a><strong> </strong>back in 2017, it was expected that the vessel would undergo research missions, <a href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2019/03/russias-most-secret-sub-soon-be-launched-terrifying-weapon">according to <em>The Barents Observer</em></a>. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin <a href="http://tass.com/defense/1045598">announced last month</a> that the submarine will carry six deep-sea Poseidon drones — each of which, terrifyingly<em>,</em> can shuttle a nuclear missile across the ocean deep under the surface.</p>
<h2>Sub Space</h2>
<p>Last month, the Russian military <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySZuRs3DxK4">posted a video</a> of the submarine Sarov launching a Poseidon drone, though <em>The Barents Observer</em> reports that it&#8217;s unknown exactly where the test took place.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ySZuRs3DxK4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The Belgorod will first be deployed before <strong>s</strong>ummer 2019, <a href="https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6189795">according to Russian media</a>, after which it will undergo a year&#8217;s worth of tests to enter active duty in 2020. Meanwhile, a second submarine dubbed &#8220;Khabarovsk&#8221; will begin tests in 2020 with the goal of being target ready by 2022.</p>
<h2>M.A.D.</h2>
<p>The Poseidon drone can travel a full kilometer beneath water level, making it difficult to detect and stop once its deployed. And that level of stealth — especially when it&#8217;s tipped with a deadly nuclear bomb — has other nations concerned.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is worrying that countries are developing new nuclear capabilities,&#8221; Ine Eriksen Søreide, Foreign Minister of Norway, told <em>The Barents Observer</em>.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2019/03/russias-most-secret-sub-soon-be-launched-terrifying-weapon">Russia&#8217;s most secret sub soon to be launched with this terrifying weapon</a> [<em>The Barents Observer</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on nuclear weapons:</strong> <em><a href="https://futurism.com/us-report-confirms-russia-developing-worlds-most-powerful-nuclear-weapon">US Report Confirms Russia Is Developing the World’s Most Powerful Nuclear Weapon</a></em></p>


"It is worrying that countries are developing new nuclear capabilities."

New Russian submarine can launch nuke-carrying drones

Bomber Drones

The Russian military is poised to begin testing Belgorod, a submarine that can launch six thermonuclear warhead-carrying deep sea drones.

New Russian Submarine Can Launch Nuke-Carrying Drones

The "Belgorod" will carry six thermonuclear warhead-carrying Poseidon drones.

<h2>Access Denied</h2>
<p>The Russian Federal Security Service just ordered internet providers to block several internet addresses, including servers for the encrypted email service ProtonMail and some of the connections necessary to run the censorship-dodging browser Tor.</p>
<p>The internet service providers complied, and while Russian ProtonMail users can currently access their inbox, they can neither send nor receive messages through the service, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/11/russia-blocks-protonmail/">according to <em>TechCrunch</em></a> — a worrisome escalation of the Russian government&#8217;s war on privacy.</p>
<h2>Blackhole</h2>
<p>Citing national security after several fake bomb threats were emailed to Russian police earlier this year, the Russian government is using what&#8217;s called <a href="https://www.noction.com/blog/bgp-blackhole-community">BGP blackhole filtering</a>, a technique that keeps people from reaching their destinations while surfing the web by dropping their connections when they try to reach a blocked site.</p>
<p>While ProtonMail says it&#8217;s developing a workaround, the move marks <a href="https://futurism.com/russia-internet-security-test">another major blow</a> against Russians&#8217; ability to preserve their digital privacy and avoid government censorship.</p>
<h2>Back Door&#8217;s Locked</h2>
<p>ProtonMail&#8217;s CEO, Andy Yen, told <em>TechCrunch</em> that the way Russia blocked the service was &#8220;particularly sneaky,&#8221; as the front-end servers are still accessible but the back-end delivery system is blocked. So people can still visit the site, but no messages can get in or out.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have also implemented technical measures to ensure continued service for our users in Russia and we have been making good progress in this regard,&#8221; Yen told <em>TechCrunch</em>. &#8220;If there is indeed a legitimate legal complaint, we encourage the Russian government to reconsider their position and solve problems by following established international law and legal procedures.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/11/russia-blocks-protonmail/">Russia blocks encrypted email provider ProtonMail</a> [<em>TechCrunch</em>]</p>
<p><strong>More on Russian censorship:</strong><em> <a href="https://futurism.com/google-censoring-search-results-russia">Google Is Censoring Search Results to Hide Russian Corruption</a></em></p>


Citing phony bomb threats, the Federal Security Service wants access to email servers.

Russia blocks access to ProtonMail

No Passing Notes

Citing national security, Russia just blocked access to servers necessary to run the encrypted email service ProtonMail and the anonymized web browser Tor.

/Russia