ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 11, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 11, 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

• China and Serbia Elevate Bilateral Ties
• Mass Protests in Armenia Over Territorial Concessions to Azerbaijan
• Ukrenergo Warning of Emergency Blackouts

China and Serbia Elevate Bilateral Ties

On May 8, China and European Union (EU) candidate Serbia elevated bilateral ties from strategic relations to a “shared future” during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. This is the highest possible form of cooperation between the two countries but also sends a signal to the EU that Serbia, which wants to join the 27-nation EU, has likely placed another roadblock on its potential candidacy. Serbia's refusal to recognize Kosovo and its close ties with Russia are the primary issues halting its EU membership. China has invested heavily in Serbia’s mining and infrastructure, and the two countries just signed a free trade pact last year that is not in line with EU conditions for membership. Serbia has been a key country in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a worldwide infrastructure-building initiative that normally builds roads and bridges in emerging markets but occasionally also in parts of Europe.

Mass Protests in Armenia Over Territorial Concessions to Azerbaijan

On May 9, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Yerevan, Armenia demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his recent territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. On April 19, Pashinyan announced he would cede four villages to Azerbaijan as part of a border delimitation agreement. Small protests in the affected regions began shortly after the announcement. During the protests prominent Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan issued an ultimatum to Pashinyan, giving him an hour to resign. After the deadline passed, Galstanyan warned "We will force him to do it".

Ukrenergo Warning of Emergency Blackouts

On May 9, Ukraine's electricity provider, Ukrenergo, announced it may have to introduce rolling blackouts throughout the country due to Russian airstrikes that have damaged many power plants. Ukraine currently faces a near constant electricity deficit due to the Russian strikes; emergency blackouts are most likely during periods of increased consumption. Government officials are urging the public to reduce electricity consumption as much as possible and are implementing other electricity-saving measures, such as limiting streetlight usage at night. Ukrenergo also said it would limit industrial consumption from 6PM - 12AM local time to reduce pressure on the electrical grid. This policy could hamper Ukraine's manufacturing operations within the country's defense industrial base.