• Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have been promising according to both sides, but an agreement remains out of reach. Ukrainian President Zelensky said terms have become more realistic, but “time is still needed for the decisions to be in Ukraine’s interests”.
• Zelensky addressed the U.S. Congress again the morning of 16 March to call for support, after which President Biden announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine. Funds will supply Ukraine with additional anti-armor and air-defense weapons, bringing total U.S. assistance to Ukraine over the past week to $1 billion.
• On 15 March, the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia made a joint visit to Kyiv, traveling into the warzone to meet with President Zelensky. The EU and NATO leaders returned to Poland the next day, hoping to draw more support to Ukraine in the war and its ambitions for EU membership.
• Two journalists working for Fox News were killed outside Kyiv on 15 March after their vehicle came under fire. The attack follows the death of another journalist outside Kyiv on 13 March, underscoring the danger of traveling in the warzone where army positions are fluid, and the front line is difficult to identify.
• Ukrainian intelligence stated on 15 March that Russia is redeploying forces from the east, Georgia, and Armenia. Authorities believe Russia will use these forces to hold captured territory for a renewed offensive in stalled battlegrounds such as Kyiv.
• Belarus' Lukashenko reiterated that Belarussian forces would not engage in Ukraine.
• President Zelensky extended martial law for an additional 30 days from 26 March. Martial law will allow authorities to impose curfews and restrict entry into and exit out areas.

A PRIVATE COMPANY HAS EVACUATED 6,500 PEOPLE FROM UKRAINE

In a recent article in Defense One, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses how the company is actively supporting its clients in Ukraine and shared the details of the evacuation process, including how the team determines if evacuees can be reached, the logistics around the journey, and what the support looks like when the evacuees reach the border. 

Think you're being tracked? Here are 3 ways to protect yourself

In a recent interview filmed at Global Guardian's Charlotte, NC-based 24/7 Security Operations Center for WBTV's Safety First, Asset Security President Andrew Vanderburg discusses how the popular GPS trackers known as Air Tags can be used by malign actors to track your whereabouts and steal from you. Andrew also weighs in with what you should do if you find an unknown device in your belongings and steps to take to protect yourself. 

GLOBAL GUARDIAN RESPONSE UPDATE

Since the onset of Russian's invasion of Ukraine, Global Guardian has evacuated clients and their families from over 15 locations across the region, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. As the situation deteriorates and Russian forces continue their advances, the risks associated with targeted cities has evolved to where evacuation is no longer tenable.

Below is an update on our current response capabilities as of Monday, March 14, 2022. Should you have any questions on how our team can support or would like to request custom intel reports, please contact our team at +1 (703) 566-9463 or email us here. 

• Russian Direct Threat - Russian forces continue to advance in and around the following cities and Global Guardian will NOT execute missions there moving forward, unless the threat decreases or approved with exception by Global Guardian's CEO:
  • Kyiv
  • Poltava
  • Kharkiv
  • Slvyansk
  • Donetsk
  • Zaporizhzhia
  • Mykolaiv
  • Vonesensk
• Accessible Cities (for now) - Cities still functional and accessible but under threat in the near future:
  • Odessa - could fall to a Russian amphibious assault at anytime
  • Dnipro - increasingly under air and missile attack
  • Kremenchuk
  • Cherkasy
  • Kropyvnytskyi
  • Bila Tserkva
  • Vinnytsia
  • Khmeinytskyi
  • Lviv
  • Ivano Frankivsk
  • Ternopil
  • Lutsk
  • Rivne
  • Sherpetivka
• Increased Risk & Cost
  • All evacuations moving forward will be considered HIGH to EXTREME RISK based on the increased threat.
  • Evacuation Teams will NOW consist of only ARMED AGENTS with FULL TACTICAL EQUIPMENT and potentially ARMORED VEHICLES and additional time will be required in planning to assess the threat.
  • Cost will potentially increase for assets depending on the requirement.

SITUATION UPDATE

• Over the weekend, Russian forces increased strikes in Western Ukraine. Ukrainian airfields have been targeted and the Yavoriv International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security—a training center and key waypoint for western arms—was struck on 13 March, killing 35 Ukrainians. The attack was meant to signal that no part of Ukraine is safe from Russian missiles and that NATO weapons transfers will be targeted once they reach Ukrainian soil.
• The last few days have seen very limited Russian advances as Russian forces have effectively paused most of their offensives as they regroup. Most of Russia's military gains have been in the Donbas and in the southern oblast of Mykolaiv.  
• Russia is drawing down its international deployments in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and pulling troops from its far east to reinforce its operations in Ukraine. Other reports indicate that Russia has opened recruitment centers in Syria and Libya.
• Western leaders have issued warnings—falling short of red lines—to Russia about potential chemical weapons usage. On Friday, President Biden said that there would be a "severe price" for Russia, while Polish President Duda warned on Sunday that weapons of mass destruction would be a “game-changer” for NATO.
• President Putin has begun to purge military and intelligence personnel. Sergey Beseda, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) foreign intelligence branch was reportedly arrested along with his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh. This high-level arrest follows other reports that Putin has replaced over eight generals and several other key figures in the FSB’s Ukraine branch over significant operational failures.
• According to U.S. officials, Russia has asked China for military equipment and economic assistance. This report was leaked as Jake Sullivan, US national security adviser, meets with a Chinese counterpart in Rome on 14 March. 
  
  

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: HOW PRIVATE SECURITY GROUPS ARE PLAYING A ROLE IN EVACUATIONS

“In the last 12 days, every mission, every evacuation we’ve executed has included children, family members, grandfathers, grandmothers, and relatives."

Dale Buckner joined Yahoo Finance to discuss the latest updates happening on the ground in Ukraine, including how the team is continuing to step in and support clients and civilians, reuniting families and bringing them to safety. During the conversation, Dale also explained the comprehensive Global Guardian model, including how our global emergency response capabilities allow us to support clients in all types of crises. In addition, Dale shared in all crises the team is ultimately looking for a safe zone - focusing on where individuals are located, where is the threat, and where can we move them and bring them to safety.

UKRAINE WAR: ARE FOREIGN FIRMS TAKING CARE OF THEIR LOCAL STAFF?

In a recent article in Financial Times Intelligence, President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses the growing trend of corporate headquarters feeling responsible for their local national employees in foreign markets, and how Global Guardian assists these firms in fulfilling their duty of care obligations, including evacuation assistance out of Ukraine. 

SIMPLE HABITS ZELENSKY MUST ADOPT TO AVOID RUSSIAN ASSASSINATION

“Just burning that adrenaline for so long, at a certain point, you kind of start to get that zombie effect almost,” he said. “We’re picking up people now that start to look like that a little bit. It's scary. It's not good.”"

In an interview with Yahoo News Australia, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner shares insight on Russia's war on Ukrainians mental health, the key measures being used to keep President Zelensky safe from Russian assassins, and how NATO is working to “find a balance” between maximizing military support for Ukraine without “crossing that line, and then hitting a tripwire, and starting World War III”. 

Situation update

• Kazakhstan's flagship carrier Air Astana and Turkey's Pegasus Airlines both suspended flights to and from Russia due to risks from conflict and lack of insurance coverage. 
• Goldman Sachs became the first major U.S. bank to announce it would close its operations in Russia with a similar announcement from JPMorgan Chase & Co following not far behind. 
• Russia has banned exports to “unfriendly” countries across several sectors until the end of 2022 in response to Western sanctions, including: agriculture, electrical, forestry, medical, tech equipment, and telecommunications.
  
  
  • Russia also banned exports of cars, airplanes, and drones as foreign companies attempt to recover $10 billion of leased aircraft from Russian airlines.
  • Additionally, wheat, meslin, rye, barley, corn, and some sugar exports to the Eurasian Economic Union have been banned until August 2022 as Russia tries to ensure its home market has enough food amid disruptions from sanctions.
• President Putin announced that Russia would recruit its own “volunteers” in response to Ukraine’s foreign legion. Third-party groups will allow the Kremlin to distance itself from civilian deaths as fighting further intensifies in Ukraine. Up to 16,000 Syrian troops have reportedly been recruited to fight.
• Ukraine's Air Force Command reports that Russian aircraft entered Ukrainian air space before turning around and flying toward Belarus where they fired missiles at the Belarussian border town of Kopani. Ukraine's Internal Ministry claims this is a false-flag operation carried out by Russia to provide pretext for Belarus to join the conflict.
• The U.S. has warned that Russia may carry out an attack targeting nuclear power plants, or using chemical or biological weapons in order to accuse Ukraine of a false-flag operation.
• Unconfirmed allegations from Defense Intelligence of Ukraine claim that Russian forces are gathering bodies of slain Ukrainian soldiers to plant at Chernobyl as "saboteurs", in order to blame a catastrophe on Ukraine as a false-flag operation.  
  
  

Situation update

• Russia’s Legislative Commission has approved a bill that will allow the state to seize organizations owned 25% or more by foreign entities from “unfriendly” countries if they do not resume normal operations. Over the past week, the Russian labor force has faced a flood of unemployment as major foreign businesses close shop in Russia.
• Starbucks, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi are among the latest major business to stop operations in Russia. 
• Russian Central Bank officials announced that sale of foreign currencies to citizens is suspended at all banks until at least 09 September, due to international sanctions. For withdrawals of over USD10,000, the balance must be made using roubles instead of dollars.
• The Russian Duma has approved amendments that will allow the creation of a unified register of individuals that have been declared “foreign agents.” The Russian government currently maintains a similar register for business entities, which allows for systemic discrimination of affected persons in Russia.
• President Biden signed an executive order on 08 March to ban new investments on Russian oil, liquified natural gas, and coal imports to the U.S. Gas prices have risen to an all-time high stateside as refiners cut back on contracts with Russia.
• The EU enacted a never-before-used temporary protection scheme, allowing Ukrainian nationals who flee war to be granted permission to live and work in EU member states for up to three years.
• Russian forces appear to have made progress south toward Kyiv's western flank. Despite heavy losses of both soldiers and equipment, Russia's army continues to make slow but steady territorial gains in Ukraine. 
• Over the last several days, there has been a reported softening of negotiating positions on both sides. Ukraine is reportedly open to "neutrality" and to back away from its NATO bid. In addition, Ukrainian President Zelensky has sent out conflicting signals regarding his willingness to recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea and the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics. Meanwhile, Russia has signaled it may be able to live next to a (mostly) sovereign Ukraine if the Donbas is demilitarized. Ultimately, it remains unclear if a peace deal is likely in the near-term. 

“Anything their employees need, if they’re sick, injured, need medical evacuation, need security, all of those things are in our sphere. When you have events like the Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Turkey Coup, the Paris attacks, that’s when we’re most active in a crisis like this.”

Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on CNN International's First Move with Julia Chatterley discussing the duty of care corporations have to their employees and employees family, and how Global Guardian is actively evacuating clients in Ukraine. In addition, during the interview, Dale provided an assessment on what he believes to be the most likely course of action when it comes to the potential outcome of the war in Ukraine.