Shannon Vavra

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National Security & Cybersecurity | Priors: CNAS Fellow, National Security Reporter at The Daily Beast, CyberScoop, Axios | Probably in need of covfefe and a snack | shanvav01 on Signal
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Shannon VavraNov 23, 2024
Lots going on lately, but if this breaks through the noise that would be great—Former Daily Beast journalist Allison Quinn’s 8-year-old son Aedrik is in a fight for his life. If you can help, GoFundMe is here. Any sharing here or elsewhere appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-allison-and-aedrik-fight-xlinked-adrenoleukodystrophy
Donate to Help Save 8-Year-Old Aedrik’s Life, organized by Tracy Connor

I’ve started this GoFundMe for Allison Quinn because her 8-year-old son Aedrik needs h… Tracy Connor needs your support for Help Save 8-Year-Old Aedrik’s Life

gofundme.com
Show threadShannon VavraApr 25, 2024

Intelligence-gathering is ongoing, I'm told.

But for context—the Belarusian hacking group “Ghostwriter” hacked into other news sites in order to spread fake stories before, and we know the line between control in Belarus and Russia is blurrier than ever: https://www.thedailybeast.com/putins-favorite-ally-belarusian-leader-alexander-lukashenko-is-caving-in-to-the-kremlin

Putin’s Favorite Ally Belarusian Leader Alexander Lukashenko Is Caving in to the Kremlin

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s delicate balancing act between Vladimir Putin and the West seems to have reached tipping point.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 25, 2024
NEW: Hackers broke into a news service and spread a fake story of an assassination plot against the incoming pro-Russia president of Slovakia. An intelligence agency official tells me the op is likely Russian or done at Russia's behest. https://www.thedailybeast.com/news-agency-hack-spawns-fake-assassination-story-on-slovakian-president?ref=topic
News Agency Hack Spawns Fake Assassination Story on Slovakian President

The Czech news agency targeted in the hack is working with authorities to investigate the incident.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 19, 2024
New: A pro-Russia American that went to fight for Russia against Ukraine has been killed, according to his battalion, a local official, and other Russian reports. Russell Bentley, AKA "Texas," went missing earlier this month, his wife said. https://www.thedailybeast.com/pro-putin-american-russell-bentley-fighting-against-ukraine-has-been-killed?ref=author
Pro-Putin American Russell Bentley Fighting Against Ukraine Has Been Killed

Russell Bentley, who was fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, has been killed, his battalion said.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 18, 2024

Iran says it might revise its nuclear doctrine, threatening a break from the publicly stated peaceful objectives of its nuclear program.

Note: U.S. intelligence has warned that in the face of attacks Iran could enrich uranium up to 90%. https://www.thedailybeast.com/iran-issues-unprecedented-nuclear-doctrine-threat-in-duel-with-israel

Iran Issues Unprecedented ‘Nuclear Doctrine’ Threat in Duel With Israel

Tehran is now publicly threatening to “deviate” plans for its nuclear program ahead of an expected attack from Israel.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 17, 2024
Chaos erupted in Georgian parliament when a lawmaker punched an MP over a “foreign influence” bill—which critics say is part of a Russian "destabilization" op in Georgia. Thousands are protesting, with the cops using pepper spray, I'm told. https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-russian-threat-that-triggered-a-fistfight-in-georgian-parliament
The Russian Threat That Triggered a Fistfight in Georgian Parliament

Chaos erupted in Georgia as an opposition leader punched another lawmaker over a controversial bill.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 11, 2024
Latest: A top US military commander, Kurilla, is in Israel as fears mount that the region could be on the brink of all-out war and Biden warns of a possible “significant” Iranian attack on Israel. Israel has promised to respond in kind. https://www.thedailybeast.com/iran-israel-blowup-has-white-house-racing-to-avert-all-out-war
Iran-Israel Blowup Has White House Racing to Avert All-Out War

A Pentagon official has arrived in Israel in preparation for what could be a “a quick spiral” into calamity with Iran.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 10, 2024
New: Top Ukrainian officials hate Trump's reported plan for ending the war—it would have Kyiv cede land to Russia. Zelensky calls it a "primitive" idea. The official in charge of Crimea tells me it would only encourage Putin's aggression: https://www.thedailybeast.com/volodymyr-zelensky-slams-donald-trumps-primitive-plan-for-ending-war-in-ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky Slams Donald Trump’s ‘Primitive’ Plan For Ending War in Ukraine

The reported plan—which includes giving up territory to Russia—is a nonstarter for Kyiv, according to top Ukrainian officials.

The Daily Beast
Show threadShannon VavraApr 4, 2024
Some context: President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed “a very public and very viable, real threat by Iran to Israel’s security” in a “direct” phone call on Thursday, the White House told reporters. https://www.thedailybeast.com/irans-retaliation-threat-sparks-panicked-preparations-in-israel
Iran’s Retaliation Threat Sparks Panicked Preparations in Israel

The Israeli military is boosting air defenses and canceling leave for soldiers in combat units, while some civilians are reportedly stockpiling goods and cash.

The Daily Beast
Shannon VavraApr 4, 2024
Israel is on “heightened” alert and boosting defenses after Tehran threatened retaliation for the strike that killed a top Iranian commander. It's canceling leave for IDF soldiers in combat units, drafting reservists, GPS jamming, and more. https://www.thedailybeast.com/irans-retaliation-threat-sparks-panicked-preparations-in-israel
Iran’s Retaliation Threat Sparks Panicked Preparations in Israel

The Israeli military is boosting air defenses and canceling leave for soldiers in combat units, while some civilians are reportedly stockpiling goods and cash.

The Daily Beast