#UKRAINERUSSIAWAR. Here is Moscow’s electronic warfare in Kursk to jam Ukrainian communications

According to Intelligence Online, the Russian military has used large-scale electronic warfare systems to jam tactical communications of the last Ukrainian troops retreating from the Russian region of Kursk. Russian General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who is leading the counteroffensive operation, hopes to prevent the Ukrainian command from coordinating a retreat to the border, with the intention of destroying the last Ukrainian units remaining on Russian territory. Moscow hopes that this will strengthen its position in the ceasefire negotiations.

To ensure the security of the radio network used by Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainian company Aerobavovna, headed by Yuriy Vysoven, is positioning dozens of its balloons at night in the Sumy region, on the border with Russia.

During these sensitive operations, the company’s specialist teams are monitored by Ukrainian special operations forces (SSO) from a southern special operations center. They fear being targeted by Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones, which roam the area trying to identify possible targets for stray Lancet ammunition.

The balloons are equipped with HF and VHF radio repeaters, which increase the range of radio communications used by the Ukrainian command and ground units. The high-flying balloons allow Ukrainian communications to avoid jamming by the Russian military and can remain in the air for weeks.

According to Intelligence Online sources in Ukraine, Kiev’s tactical communications have been the subject of unprecedented jamming and interception (SIGINT) operations since Ukrainian troops invaded the Kursk region. The Russian military command has mobilized several regiments of radio-technical troops with electronic warfare skills, as well as numerous heavy vehicles transferred from other locations on the Ukrainian front.

According to a Ukrainian source involved in ground operations, the Russian military is deploying several heavy electronic warfare systems such as the RB-301B Borisoglebsk-2, R-330Zh Zhitel, and MKTK-1A Judoist, as well as several upgraded versions of its Thorne-MDM system, which can jam radio communications, but most importantly detect the use of mobile phones.

The Torn-MDM complex has proven particularly dangerous for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kursk, as some retreating Ukrainian units have resorted to using the mobile network. They expose themselves to Russian technical intelligence operations when they try to contact their command. Once detected, Ukrainian mobile phones immediately become targets for Russian artillery.

Graziella Giangiulio 

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