Discover-Tech spy ads reached Norway’s parliament and Kripos as Finland and Poland raised readiness

Norway

Spy ads reached networks used by the Storting and Kripos. Ads from the Israeli company Discover-Tech were shown on devices in networks used by the Storting (Norway’s parliament), Kripos (the National Criminal Investigation Service) and Nkom (the Norwegian Communications Authority), according to the research group Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. The report, published on 15 October, also covers ad impressions at the Swedish Armed Forces, the weapons maker Saab, the grid operator Svenska kraftnät, and Denmark’s Banedanmark (rail) and Ørsted (energy). The Norwegian business daily Dagens Næringsliv published the Norwegian review on Friday 16 October. The researchers have documented that the technology can install spyware when an ad is displayed on screen. At the Nordic institutions, ad exposure is documented, while possible infection requires further investigation. Infections are confirmed at the media group Al Jazeera.

Finland

The Finnish Defence Forces restricted traffic near Russia for a second morning in a row. Early on Saturday 17 October, from about 02:30 Norwegian time (03:30 in Finland), the Finnish Defence Forces introduced restrictions on air and sea traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland. The measures were meant to protect civilians and give authorities room to detect and, if necessary, counter drones. According to Yle, Finland’s public broadcaster, citing the Defence Forces, the drones stayed outside Finnish territory. Similar restrictions were introduced on Friday morning. The background is the risk of drones entering Finland when Ukraine strikes targets on the Russian side of the Gulf of Finland.

Poland

Military aircraft operated over Poland while two airports halted traffic. Poland’s Operational Command carried out a new air operation on Friday 16 October after Russian strikes on western Ukraine. Around 14:37 Norwegian time, residents of the Lublin region in eastern Poland were alerted. Military aircraft operated over the country while air defence and radar units were put on alert. The airports in Lublin and Rzeszów temporarily halted operations as part of the security measures. The operation ended before 18:00. The Operational Command later said Polish airspace had seen no registered violations.

Russia

A governor reported two drones shot down near Finland and Estonia. Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of Russia’s Leningrad region, said early on Saturday 17 October that air defences had shot down two drones. The region surrounds St. Petersburg and borders both Finland and Estonia. The air raid alert was lifted in the morning. The reports of the shootdowns so far rest on the Russian authorities’ account. The drones’ exact routes remain unclear, so the report gives context to the situation around the Gulf of Finland rather than a confirmed explanation for Finland’s measures.

Baltic Sea

Russia reported a bomber flight with foreign fighter jets close by. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said on Friday 16 October that Tu-22M3 bombers, escorted by Russian fighters, flew for more than four hours over international waters in the Baltic Sea. According to the ministry, fighter jets from other countries followed the formation for parts of the route. Reuters relayed the statement at 14:43 Norwegian time. The publication time is known, but the exact time of the flight and which countries sent fighters remain unclear.

Latvia

Eleven people were stopped at the border with Belarus. Latvia’s border authorities state in an overview published Saturday 17 October that eleven people were stopped at the border with Belarus on Friday 16 October. The figure covers the whole calendar day on Friday. It should therefore be kept separate from this brief’s own reporting window, from Friday 13:10 to Saturday 13:10 Norwegian time.

EU

The EU wants to board more ships from the shadow fleet. In the conclusions from the Brussels summit, published Friday 16 October, the EU’s heads of state and government call for more boardings of Russia’s shadow fleet, meaning ageing tankers used to evade sanctions. The aim is to hit sanctions circumvention and reduce Russia’s oil revenues. Operations must take place within international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The leaders also demand cooperation along the entire transport chain. For Denmark, Sweden and Finland, this puts the spotlight on control of shipping through the Baltic Sea. The conclusions set the political direction, while each operation needs its own legal basis.

USA

Trump puts key Russia sanctions on hold. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday 16 October granting broad exemptions from the new Russia sanctions law, two days before key measures were due to take effect on 18 October. The exemptions include, among other things, additional tariffs on Russian goods and on goods from certain countries that buy Russian oil and gas or facilitate sanctions evasion. Trump justifies the decision by citing American national interests. The exemptions apply until the president or the Secretary of State decides on further action, while existing sanctions remain in place. The same Friday, EU leaders expressed regret over the USA’s temporary relief for Russian diesel.

Europe

Western shipping companies keep Russian gas exports going. The organisation Urgewald presented a mapping on Saturday 17 October through the Kyiv Independent. According to the organisation, 134 ships have carried Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) since the full-scale invasion, across about 2,700 voyages. The gas is cooled so it can be shipped to buyers far from Russia. Ships linked to Greece’s Dynagas and to Seapeak each account for roughly 17 per cent of the voyages, according to Urgewald. Seapeak says it owns half of six gas carriers and all of one more that transport Russian gas. Dynagas LNG Partners says the vessels Yenisei River and Lena River carry gas for Yamal, a customer that accounted for 36 per cent of cash revenue in the first half of 2026. The company says its operations follow current sanctions. Urgewald links Trump’s exemptions to the new sanctions measures against ships carrying Russian energy.

Ukraine

More than 15 trucks burned after drone attacks near the trade route to Poland. Russian drones hit a parking area and a customs terminal in Kovel, western Ukraine, on Friday 16 October. Regional head Roman Romaniuk first said about ten trucks were burning. The evening update raised the number to more than 15 trucks and two injured men. At the customs terminal, people escaped the attack unharmed. The same day, the Polish-owned company Agrofrukt LTDin Manevychi was attacked. Regional authorities reported one person killed and eight injured. The attacks hit both freight transport and civilian workplaces in Ukraine’s western border area.

Moldova

A drone exploded in a field in the north of the country. Moldova’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Friday 16 October that a drone fell and exploded outside Codrenii Noi. Air surveillance registered an unauthorised flight near Sobari at 16:22 local time, equal to 15:22 Norwegian time. The ministry’s update came at 17:04 local time. Authorities are investigating the drone’s origin and the course of events, and asked residents to keep away from unknown objects and wreckage. A separate overview from the ministry, published before the explosion, documents seven airspace incidents between 10 and 16 October.

Best regards,
The New Backyard