ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - October 21, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - October 21, 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

• North Korea to Provide Nearly 11,000 Troops to Assist Russia
• U.S. Charges Former Indian Government Official in Murder-for-Hire Plot
• Moldova Uncovers Network of "Provocateurs" Trained in Russia and the Balkans

North Korea to Provide Nearly 11,000 Troops to Assist Russia

Both Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence have reported North Korea intends to send nearly 11,000 troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. A deployment of this size would mark North Korea's first large-scale deployment of ground forces. A smaller contingent of North Korean soldiers - between 1,500 to 3,000 troops - are currently undergoing training in Russia and will be ready to fight by November 1, according to Ukrainian intelligence. These forces will likely first be sent to Russia's Kursk region to repel Ukrainian forces who have been holding the territory for the past several months.

U.S. Charges Former Indian Government Official in Murder-for-Hire Plot

The United States announced it was filing charges against a former Indian intelligence official in connection with a foiled plot to murder a Sikh activist residing in New York City. The indictment claims that beginning in May 2023, Vikash Yadav, then employed with India’s Research and Analysis Wing foreign intelligence agency, began coordinating an effort to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen of Indian origin who helps lead the Sikh nationalist organization Sikhs For Justice. Yadav allegedly hired Indian national Nikhil Gupta to carry out the killing, but Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in Prague last June and extradited to the United States, where he stands accused of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. India denies that it played any role in the attempt and is conducting its own investigation into the allegations. Indian and American officials met on October 15 to discuss the issue.

Moldova Uncovers Network of "Provocateurs" Trained in Russia and the Balkans

The head of Moldova's General Police Inspectorate, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, announced authorities uncovered a network of over 100 Moldovans trained in Russia and several Balkan countries to provoke post-election unrest in the country. Cernăuțeanu said fugitive pro-Russian oligarch Illan Shor financed the network and organized trips to Russia, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina for over 300 young people to receive training. Moldovan officials have repeatedly warned of Russia-backed efforts to destabilize Moldova and interfere in its upcoming presidential election and EU referendum, both scheduled for October 20. Last week Cernăuțeanu announced police uncovered a similar network that used Russian funds in an effort to buy votes from Moldovan citizens.