As we mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is clear that the effects of the conflict are being felt around the world in a new Cold War. Amid the fog and confusion of this increasingly intense new Cold War, subtle but important developments are being lost. Crackling headlines and information noise obscure deeper stories. For example, it will be extremely difficult to track technology transfers and leaks that ultimately affect the global balance of power. Until it is too late, the impact on the battlefield and the clear advantage in the race for military supremacy become clear. A concrete example of this can be seen in the hidden competition between East and West over quantum computing. No one knows the circumstances of the match, not just who won, but how and why.
The last time we saw the shady behind-the-scenes machinations of tech rivals publicly exposed was on December 19, 2022, in The Washington Post's “Surveillance of Technology Investments from Kremlin-Linked Expatriates.” The article was titled “Increasing.” Although it was a long, complicated, and somewhat juvenile article, it was still an important milestone and served its purpose of sounding the alarm on this topic. But ostensibly no one is tracking this alert – despite whispers in the intelligence community. However, the public does not know how much damage has been done or is currently being done. I will explain the article in detail later. Let's briefly consider why this is important. This is a thorough essay on the subject published in Nature that thoroughly discusses the research's shortcomings and huge potential.
I'm not an expert in this field, but this is enough information. Quantum computers will greatly speed up computing, so the field of encryption, such as passwords and codes, could be devastated. As if we weren't all that vulnerable to hacking our communications by hostile attackers. Personal security vulnerabilities are vast. But the national security implications are similar, from encrypted communications between leaders to the battlefield, in the air, in space, between soldiers and drones, and many other places where cryptography plays a central role. The same goes for communication. However far or near, theoretical or deadly, one thing is certain: the Russians have a deep interest in acquiring our knowledge. And recently, relying so heavily on China and Iran to help Ukraine, the Russians have spread everything they know to their allies.
That's the stake. Now, back to the article and what we know or what we knew in December 2022. The U.S. government has sanctioned a Russian state-backed high-tech investment company called Russian Ventures and the Russian Quantum Center, which operates a research lab near Moscow. According to the article, the FBI and other U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring several Russian expatriates who invest in Western tech companies, but these expatriates may hide or deny their ties to the Kremlin. , they may have changed their passport or identity. The problem is that they often operate through private equity firms or shell companies, and are not that easy to track down. The central figure is Viktor Vekselberg, the founder of Skolkovo, Russia's Silicon Valley tech park. The article treats him as part of the network. In fact, he has been sanctioned in the past and is currently being sanctioned. One Western ally, Vladislav Osupov, was also indicted, according to a recent announcement by the Justice Department itemizing all efforts it has made to support Ukraine by sanctioning Russians. Osupov was charged with making international money transfers to maintain Vekselberg's yacht, which was seized in Spain.
While the Department of Justice's diligence is no doubt commendable, the bulleted list of names and crimes is relatively small, with a list of incidents more of a financial nature than security threats, such as yachting, real estate, and money laundering. There seems to be a lot of crime. Aside from Mr. Vekselberg, none of the names mentioned in the Washington Post story were mentioned in the department's announcement, but the intelligence community is well aware that the Fed closely monitors international players in Russia's high-tech sector. There are whispers that it continues. Take, for example, Sergei Belousov, aka Serg Bel, a “founder and investor in a technology security company” who has become a Singaporean citizen and is an early participant and founder of the Quantum Center. especially It is part of Runa Capital and invests in high-tech companies in France, Germany and Switzerland. He also founded his Acronis, which is currently based in Singapore. This article from his 2018 South China Morning Post calls it a “billion dollar IT empire with offices in 18 countries.”
He hired two former ultranationalist Kremlin youth members to work at Acronis. The Washpo article names them Robert Schlegel and Maria Dorokova. The former was a member of the State Duma. This is what the Washpo article says about him:
During his time in Congress, Schlegel traveled abroad to promote cooperation with movements in other countries. Including Germany's far-right party Democratic Union..
Schlegel disappeared from the House of Commons and the spotlight in 2016, only to be rediscovered in 2019. From a German newspaperAs a result, it turns out that he works in Munich as a director of strategic projects at Acronis.
It is clear that Belousov is now a central figure and must be closely monitored. His protégé, Masha Butcher, also known as Maria Dorokova, is said to have left behind a rather dark past as a pro-Putin activist in the youth movement, while, according to Washpo, her foundation is “aimed at Silicon Valley.” It is said that he has launched a She hastily left the United States and became a Kyrgyz citizen, where she continues her activities in the high-tech investment field. Of course, both Singapore and Kyrgyzstan are countries that do a lot of business with China. These characters' excuses, denials, and disclaimers are fully covered in Washpo's article. Please contact us for details.
There is another central figure who is not named in Washpo's article but is worth keeping an eye on. That person is Ruslan Yunusov, CEO of the Russian Quantum Center, which is under US sanctions. Yusunov is also personally on Ukraine's sanctions list.
If background information from the U.S. intelligence community is correct that an investigation is underway into the Russian tech venture and its core figures, these are likely to be the focus. The Washpo article goes on to cite other companies such as Phystec and TerraLUNA VC, as well as participants such as Galitsky, Lukyanov, and Kuzmin. They all deny or downplay any remaining shadowy ties to Russian power and state funding. But read the article and see who you believe. And it goes without saying that anyone who does business with or is around these people should be especially careful. On the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, the time to claim innocence or naivety on these issues is long past.
The Sergei Belousov case is a cautionary tale that highlights the challenges governments and regulators face in monitoring and mitigating risks associated with emerging technologies. It also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the global technology ecosystem, where the actions of a few individuals can have far-reaching effects.
As policymakers grapple with these issues, the case of Belousov and his associates will continue to resonate beyond diplomatic channels and shape future debates on technology governance and security cooperation. .
Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation allegations serve as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of geopolitical competition in the digital age, where the lines between state and non-state actors have blurred and the stakes have become higher than they once were. It has increased to such an extent that there is no such thing. Only time will tell how this story unfolds and what lessons can be gleaned from it to inform future policy decisions and protect against similar threats to global stability and security. you understand.
It is critical for authorities to dig deeper into the complex network of individuals and entities involved in Russia's quantum technology projects. This includes scrutinizing financial transactions, monitoring communications, and collaborating with international partners to gather comprehensive information.
Additionally, policymakers should consider implementing robust regulatory frameworks and export controls to prevent the illicit transfer of sensitive technology to adversaries. This will require strengthening enforcement mechanisms and increasing cooperation between government, academia and industry stakeholders to effectively detect and deter illegal activities.
