Live data from Hacker News

Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

dutchnews.nl

51–60 of 148 posts

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You chose the wrong pill my friend

I don't take pills, I live here and all the Skripal story is looking like a bullshit to me, that's my point of view so you can see not only what your mass media is feeding you. Russia is gaining power and other countries don't want that, so come up with ideas to blame Russia in all sins.

> Russia is gaining power

China is a rising power. Russia is a moderately-sized (between New York and Florida in GDP [1]) regional power and petrostate with shaky finances.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_between_U.S._stat...

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#52

They weren't spies, they were tourists. We get them all the time here in the UK.

How did the spys manage to avoid poisening themselve with the nerve agent in the process? Did they walk around in a protective suite? That might have raised some suspicions...

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#53
post #4

Article says detained, not arrested.

There could be several reasons for not arresting these "spies". First, there might have been just suspicions but no real evidence, something that would make prosecuting these men problematic and also cause a significant diplomatic struggle for the Dutch. Secondly, the evidence itself might expose sources and methods that the Dutch would not like to be exposed in a publicly prosecuted legal case. Third, the NRC articl…

> One of Holland's largest companies, Royal Dutch Shell, bought exclusive concession rights (for several decades to come) to natural resources in the Ukraine, most of which became inaccessible to them after the regime change in Kiev

Royal Dutch Shell’s 20% interest in Rosneft [1], a Russian oil company, eclipses the its exposure to Ukraine. This has been a sticking point at every sanctions crossroads, with the Dutch requiring extraordinary evidence before proceeding.

[1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fool.com/amp/investing/gene...

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#54

Yeah, we, Russians, are so stupid so decided to kill the guy who was in our prison several years ago (why did not we do that then?) with a top Soviet chemical weapon which is like droping a nuclear bomb to kill a single person. There is a information war happening to desecrate Russian Federation in the eyes of the world and nothing more.

>which is like droping a nuclear bomb to kill a single person

check that. Litvinenko. Basically minimal possible weapon of nuclear kind. Leaving no doubts who did it.

That is the point. An unmistakable publicly visible signature so nobody would have any doubts who did it, and all that without need to publicly take responsibility. Like with Nemtsov - killed right in the view from Putin's office. No need to claim responsibility while everybody clearly understands who did it.

>There is a information war happening to desecrate Russian Federation in the eyes of the world and nothing more.

The "information war" goes non-stop in the world, and Russia is far from being the only target or participant. The only thing we hear from Russia is that non-stop whining.

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#55
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on the goal. I don't think you can assume it was just to get rid of the person.

But that's the thing. There's no clear reason for Russians to so publicly go after this guy. They gain absolutely nothing from it. Whatever the "message" this was supposed to send, it's unclear.

> Whatever the "message" this was supposed to send, it's unclear

Large numbers of former KGB and FSB agents live outside Russia. These well-publicised killings send a clear message to them about the consequences of spilling—or threatening to spill—Putin’s beans.

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#56

They weren't spies, they were tourists. We get them all the time here in the UK.

How did the spys manage to avoid poisening themselve with the nerve agent in the process? Did they walk around in a protective suite? That might have raised some suspicions...

By keeping it in a sealed container. A nerve agent that could only be handled by someone wearing a protective suit wouldn't be very practical.

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't take pills, I live here and all the Skripal story is looking like a bullshit to me, that's my point of view so you can see not only what your mass media is feeding you. Russia is gaining power and other countries don't want that, so come up with ideas to blame Russia in all sins.

> Russia is gaining power China is a rising power. Russia is a moderately-sized (between New York and Florida in GDP [1]) regional power and petrostate with shaky finances. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_between_U.S._stat...

First, I did not say we are on top, but we do gain. Second, power is not only econimics, but politics and power to stand against external threats and protect our people.

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#58
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did the spys manage to avoid poisening themselve with the nerve agent in the process? Did they walk around in a protective suite? That might have raised some suspicions...

By keeping it in a sealed container. A nerve agent that could only be handled by someone wearing a protective suit wouldn't be very practical.

But they were spraying the aerosol around when they pressed the button. Are they some kind of robots who are immune to the stuff?

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#59
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By keeping it in a sealed container. A nerve agent that could only be handled by someone wearing a protective suit wouldn't be very practical.

But they were spraying the aerosol around when they pressed the button. Are they some kind of robots who are immune to the stuff?

They sprayed it on the door handle. Being careful not to inhale would probably be sufficient. It's not a risk I'd be willing to take, but those guys were not in a risk free profession.

Re: Russian spies detained in The Hague were planning cyber break-in at Swiss lab

#60

Yeah, we, Russians, are so stupid so decided to kill the guy who was in our prison several years ago (why did not we do that then?) with a top Soviet chemical weapon which is like droping a nuclear bomb to kill a single person. There is a information war happening to desecrate Russian Federation in the eyes of the world and nothing more.

>desecrate Russian Federation in the eyes of the world and nothing more

Russia Today does that by itself just fine.

Post reply on HN