ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 25, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 25, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Senate Foreign Relations Committee Advances Bill to Seize Frozen Russian Assets
• Houthis Order American and British Nationals in Yemen to Leave the Country
• Russian Plane Carrying Ukrainian POWs Crashes Near Border

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Advances Bill to Seize Frozen Russian Assets

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced legislation that would allow the United States to seize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. The bill, titled the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act, would mark the first time the United States has seized the assets of a foreign country it is not at war with. The committee approved the bill in a bipartisan 20 - 1 vote; the legislation will now advance to the Senate floor. Several other countries are also weighing options to use Russian assets to fund reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. The European Union is considering legislation that would allow member states to place a windfall tax on Russian assets, and appropriate tax revenue to Ukraine.

Houthis Order American and British Nationals in Yemen to Leave the Country

The Houthi militia ordered American and British nationals working in Yemen to leave the country within a month. The order applies to United States and United Kingdom staff members of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations. The Houthis also ordered foreign organizations operating in Yemen to stop hiring American and British citizens. The order comes as the United States and United Kingdom continue airstrikes on Houthi targets to protect international shipping in the Red Sea.

Russian Plane Carrying Ukrainian POWs Crashes Near Border

A Russian military transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed in Belgorod, Russia near the Ukrainian border. Nobody onboard the aircraft survived the incident. The 65 prisoners were due to be exchanged for Russian prisoners in a swap expected to occur today. Shortly after the crash, Russian officials accused Ukraine of shooting down the plane. In response, Ukraine said Russia did not warn “about the need to ensure the safety of the airspace” near Belgorod and risked the prisoners' lives by flying them into a war zone. Ukraine has not commented on whether its forces were involved in the downing of the flight. Ukrainian news outlets Ukrayinska Pravda and RBC-Ukraine, citing a source in the Ukrainian General Staff, reported the Ukrainian military was responsible for the crash. However, both publications edited their posts to remove the quote.