NEW: The head of a nonprofit that fights Russian repression says she was possibly poisoned by “some nerve agent” on a trip in Europe in a possible sign Russia's toxin team is targeting critics again. Plus some other suspicious incidents... @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/suspected-pois… She said she returned to an open hotel room door on the day of the suspected attack. She checked the room for bugs and did not find any. But she said her room had a strange smell, like "cheap perfumes." Later she “woke up at 5am in acute pain” and eventually "vivid numbness"

NEW: As speculation about the leader of Belarus Lukashenko’s health swirls, Belarus’ opposition tells me it’s a sign for them to be ready to take any opportunity for a democratic push, and for a future without Lukashenko in power. @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/belarus-rivals… Belarus’ opposition on Lukashenko: “He looked really bad. You can say that he is in the worst shape we’ve seen him…even if he comes back to his feet it is likely that this is the beginning of his physical degradation…we have to account for this” thedailybeast.com/belarus-rivals…

BREAKING: Two Russian Su-27 aircraft "conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept" and struck the propeller of a U.S. Air Force ISR unmanned MQ-9 aircraft over the Black Sea today—it led to a "crash and complete loss" of the US MQ-9, according to USEUCOM U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker says the US drone was completing routine operations in international airspace when the Russian aircraft conducted the unsafe and unprofessional behavior, which is a part of a pattern of dangerous operations from Russian pilots lately.

NEW: Russia is running a "very intense" influence operation meant to destabilize the current Moldova government, with the apparent aim of installing a Russia-friendly government, U.S. and Moldovan officials told me. Dive in behind the scene @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/russian-influe… The op uses TikTok/Telegram/Facebook to stir up discontent over cost of living/energy prices—which Russia exacerbated with Ukraine—Moldova's Ambassador to the US told me. The op encourages the tension to spillover into the physical realm via anti-government protests in Moldova.

BREAKING: The Biden administration just downed a high altitude object over Alaska at 40,000 feet. Pres. Biden ordered it downed NSC's John Kirby says. The "predominant concern...was the safety of flight issue at that altitude" as it could've "posed a threat to civilian aircraft" There is no indication who or what is responsible for the high altitude "object" the Biden admin downed or whether China—or any nation for that matter—is behind it, Kirby said.

New: Russian shelling has raised radioactive dust clouds around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, resulting in elevated radiation levels nearby, according to a Ukrainian military intelligence alert. The ash has "a level of radiation that is at least 2.5 times higher than the natural background," notes the alert, which claims Russia is trying to blame Ukrainian forces for the issue. The alert doesn't specify any measured changes to radiation levels.

Wow—@OPokalchuk, the head of @amnesty's Ukraine team, is resigning, after she said her office tried to stop Amnesty's report that accused Ukraine of placing civilians in harm’s way, due to its “one-sidedness.” But Amnesty gave a “firm no” and published. thedailybeast.com/officials-blas… "It's not about English, it's about the fact that if you don't live in a country invaded by invaders and are tearing it to pieces," @OPokalchuk says...

New: Amnesty International says Ukraine's tactics using weapons in populous areas are endangering civilians. Ukrainian officials are hitting back, saying Amnesty is parroting Russian propaganda trying to blame Ukraine for death in the war. @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/officials-blas… “Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas...as they repelled the Russian invasion that began in February...they turn civilian objects into military targets,” @amnesty says

SCOOP: The State Dept held a classified briefing Friday to discuss concerns the Russian diplomatic compound in the Bronx in New York is actually a Russian spy hub, I’m told—& now the FBI is getting pressured to step in. Details exclusive on @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/secret-briefin… In a classic case of spy v spy, US officials have been tracking Russian agents at the complex for years. The Russians often are diplomats to the UN, but mostly work on Moscow intel collection, I’m told. And Riverdale is teeming with Russian spies, according to @john_sipher:

EXCLUSIVE: A US intelligence memo I obtained shows Russian influence ops are trying to convince Americans aid for Ukraine is the reason the war is dragging.

And another memo I got my hands on warns Russia’ll try to interfere in US midterms @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/how-vladimir-p… Putin watchers warn me Putin is likely willing to bet he can outlast the Biden administration until there’s a more favorable political climate in the US for his goals in Ukraine—and they warn Putin is willing to run info ops to secure that more sympathetic US political climate

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines just now: "We assess President Putin is preparing for prolonged conflict in Ukraine during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the Donbas"/eastern Ukraine. The U.S. intelligence community assesses "we are not confident that the fight in the Donbas will effectively end the war" in Ukraine, DNI Haines continues.

BREAKING: President Biden warns of "evolving intelligence" that shows Russia "is exploring options for potential cyberattacks" in a statement.

"I urge our private sector partners to harden your cyber defenses immediately," Biden says. The White House suggests US companies take standard steps to take to boost defense: Use multi-factor authentication, use tools to continuously look for threats, patch, back up and encrypt data, run drills for crises, be aware of phishing tactics, and contact FBI/CISA

SCOOP: The accused Russian agent Elena Branson—who's been charged for acting as a Russian agent & failed to register under FARA—donated to Tulsi Gabbard, a longtime favorite of the Russian propaganda machine. From me & @SollenbergerRC @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/accused-russia… The donations aren’t colossal—a whopping $59.95—but they do raise questions about why an alleged Russian agent, tasked with currying favor with U.S. politicians, would zero in on Gabbard, and only Gabbard. (The accused foreign agent didn't donate to any other campaigns.)

NEW: Some Republican lawmakers introduced bills before Russia invaded that'd condition military aid to Ukraine on Biden's handling of the US southern border. But now—even w/ the carnage unfolding in Ukraine—they tell me they're digging in. @thedailybeast thedailybeast.com/conservatives-… Rep. Bob Good told me even though Russia has invaded Ukraine, he “absolutely” still wants to move forward the proposal to hinge aid to Ukraine on the status of the US southern border. “I do support aid for Ukraine. However, I support this.”

New: NSA Director Nakasone says just now NSA has seen 3-4 Russian cyberattacks in Ukraine so far, & as to some folks' surprise there haven't been more disruptive ones, he warns of possible ransomware hits, wormlike attacks that spread, and notes we're 15 days in to this conflict DNI Avril Haines said the U.S. intelligence community sees no evidence Ukraine is pursuing biological or nuclear weapons—a key tenet of Russian disinformation.

New: US intel community's Annual Threat Assessment, which IC leaders are briefing to lawmakers momentarily (based on intel thru Jan 21) says Russia's had "slow" defense spending growth & "the farther it deploys...the less able it...will be to sustain intensive combat operations" .@RepAdamSchiff on Russia/Ukraine: "We are witnessing the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II...we are not placing U.S. military forces into the conflict in Ukraine...we’ll have to rely on other capabilities and increase our cooperation with our NATO allies."

The Pentagon believes there's truth to reports that Russia is seeking out foreign fighters from Syria "to augment their forces in Ukraine," @PentagonPresSec John Kirby says. The Pentagon says Russia’s reliance on long range fires is having an increased effect on civilian casualties and hits to civilian infrastructure like homes, schools, and hospitals—but it’s not clear just yet to DOD if it’s intentional targeting of civilians, or rather misfires.

Statement from Andriy Yermak from Zelensky’s office on the recent attack in Kyiv near the TV tower: “a powerful barrage is underway. A missile hit the place where Babyn Yar memorial complex is located! Once again, these barbarians are murdering the victims of Holocaust!” Story @thedailybeast: The apparent Russian hit on Kyiv's TV tower and the Babyn Yar Holocaust site show just how disturbed Putin’s plot against Ukraine is—in one turn claiming he is trying to “denazify” Ukraine, in another going after a Holocaust memorial thedailybeast.com/russian-forces…

President Biden in address on Ukraine reiterates claims Russia is working to set up a "false justification" to act against Ukraine, citing events in recent days including the shelling in eastern Ukraine and false claims Ukraine is planning to launch an offensive in Donbass. Biden notes the allegations Ukraine is planning an offensive in eastern Ukraine "defies basic logic" and says it isn't true: "There's simply no evidence."

.@PressSec says she won't go into hypotheticals on cyberattacks & whether they trigger Article 5 in NATO. This is not a hypothetical: Cyberattacks affecting NATO countries can trigger Article 5 group defensive options, just as if a physical attack occurred—as was decided in 2016 (If you want to get granular, it goes back to an agreement NATO made in 2014 as well.)

NEW: Biden's Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber Anne Neuberger says Russia likely targeted the Ukrainian govt with cyber activity, inclu against military & critical infrastructure—to collect intelligence & preposition to conduct cyberops during possible invasion. The U.S. has info showing Russia’s GRU, its main intelligence directorate, sending high volumes of communications to to IP addresses and domains in Ukraine, Neuberger says during White House press briefing.