ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - November 19, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - November 19, 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

• U.S. Allows Ukraine to Use Long Range Weapons on Russian Territory
• President Cyril Ramaphosa Calls for Security Personnel to Permit Aid to Illegal Miners in South African Mine
• Two Undersea Cables Damaged in Baltic Sea

U.S. Allows Ukraine to Use Long Range Weapons on Russian Territory

The Biden administration will reportedly allow Ukraine to use U.S. long-range weapons to strike targets deeper inside Russian territory. However, use of these weapons will, at least initially, be limited to Russia's Kursk Oblast. Ukraine has repeatedly requested U.S. permission to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike military targets within Russian territory, however, the United States had long opposed such a move, fearing it could escalate the conflict. Media reports cited anonymous sources, who explained Russia's recent deployment of North Korean troops prompted the Biden administration to shift its position.

President Cyril Ramaphosa Calls for Security Personnel to Permit Aid to Illegal Miners in South African Mine

President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that security personnel should begin allowing aid to reach hundreds of illegal miners who remain trapped in Stilfontein, located in South Africa's North West Province. On November 16, a judge at the Pretoria High Court ordered security personnel to begin allowing aid to the miners and for security personnel to stop blocking exits to permit the safe exit of the miners. Volunteers reportedly began lowering supplies to those who remain trapped immediately following the ruling. Estimates of the number of people who remain underground range from 300 to 400 people, according to officials, to up to 4,000 people according to local estimates. Security personnel will still be able to arrest the illegal miners as they resurface. Casualties remain unclear, but at least one person who died was recovered. Illegal mining is costly for South Africa and allegedly costs the country hundreds of millions in revenue annually.

Two Undersea Cables Damaged in Baltic Sea

On November 18, 2024, two undersea telecommunications cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea; the Cinia Oy C-Lion1 cable, which connects Finland and Germany, and a Telia cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden. The two incidents took place roughly six hours apart and the damaged sites on both cables are located about 65 miles away from each other, which suggests the events may be related. Regional officials said they do not yet know what caused the damage, but have launched an investigation to determine how the damage occurred. However, European officials have suggested Russia may be behind the incidents, citing warnings of hybrid warfare targeting critical infrastructure in Europe. In early September, the United States revealed it detected increased Russian military activity around key undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.