Arrest warrant for Russian spy handler >>> Desaster relief

TWIAD is your bi-weekly, English-language briefing on national security and defence affairs in the alpine republic. The most relevant news reports, press releases, articles and announcements are recapped and, where necessary, put into context for greater accessibility. Feel free to get in touch and leave us your feedback and thoughts, ask questions in the comments or join the #TWIAD raucity on Twitter!

From Austria with Love

Austrian authorities have put out a warrant for one Igor Egorovich Zaytsev, 65, suspected handler of an Austrian former colonel arrested on charges of espionage late last year. The Austrian police has stated that ‘The GRU handler is suspected of inducing a retired 70-year-old colonel of the Austrian army to carry out an intelligence operation to the detriment of Austria, to reveal state secrets and to deliberately give up military secrets.’ The good colonel, meanwhile, remains in custody.

In other news

• Bundesheer engineers were deployed for disaster relief operations following heavy rains and mudslides in Salzburg state in late July, with a swept-away bridge replaced in early August.
• While  budget woes make it seem that most of the Armed Forces are going to the dogs, a few paw recruits reported for duty in late July. Welcome to the pog pug life!

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Header image: Austrian Armed Forces /Pusch