Using the hidden war as a cover, Russia not only utilizes the outdated weaponry, equipment and ammunition, but also actively tests new weapon samples and military systems. Air defense, communications, and electronic warfare (EW) systems are commonly used by the Russians ‘on vacation’ and ‘miners’ who fight in Donbas. Another OSINT investigation is dedicated to ‘Borisoglebsk-2’, the latest Russian system of electronic suppression which is the technical basis of EW units in tactical formations. The complex is designed for radio intelligence and suppression and works with HF, UHF, terrestrial and aircraft radio channels, mobile terminals and trunked radios on tactical and operational-tactical command levels.
Andrewrostov, a Rostov (Russia) resident, wrote a post about his trip via M-4 ‘Don’ highway (Moscow – Voronezh – Rostov – Krasnodar – Novorossiysk) on July, 25, 2015. The pictures of military equipment on civil trucks grabbed our attention. These are the exact coordinates where the equipment was noticed – 47°17′37″N (47.293614) 39°51′21″E (39.855788).
Having consulted by military experts we could identify the found objects. These vehicles are parts of the EW complex RB-301B ‘Borisoglebsk-2’.
For reference:
The EW complex ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ was tested for the first time in 2009-2010, and was planned for the serial production in 2011.
The Southern Military District of Russian Federation got the first eight RB-301B systems in 2013. The competition for the best EW crew was held on the Kalinovskyi training site (Republic of Chechnya, Russia) in July, 2014. 6 modern ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ complexes were involved. These systems were also used during tactical trainings at the ‘Burduny’ training site (Eastern Military District, Republic of Buryatia, Russia) in September, 2014. It was planned to supply 6 more complexes to the Russian army in 2015.
In the beginning of 2015 this complex began its service at the motorized rifle command of the Eastern Military District located in Burytia. The motorized rifle command of the Southern Military District (Republic of Chechnya, Russia) got such systems in June, 2015.
Note that we could identify the command point by the Russian blogger pictures. The vehicles seem to be brand new, the new ZIP boxes can be seen on caterpillar belts – all this allows us to assume that this command point is the R-330KVM command point of the ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ complex.
Some clarifications about the identification
The ‘Mandat’ complex (the Soviet ancestor of ‘Borisoglebsk-2’) had a R-330K command point based on 2 ‘Ural’ trucks. There is also ‘Piramida’ complex which is based on MT-LBu tracked vehicle, but it has totally different equipment attached. That is why the noticed command point we identify as the one from ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ complex, since it fits all the criteria.
MTLB from ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ complex
It is worth mentioning that similar vehicle was seen in Luhansk on March, 31, 2015, and it was false taken as 9S737 ‘Ranzhir’ command point.
There is another outstanding detail of the object noticed in Luhansk: the machine is equipped with guard plates for swimming; also the road is dry but the vehicle has wet spots above its caterpillar belt. It may indicate that the command point was transferred to Ukraine not through a border point but by crossing the Siverskyi Donets river.
R-330KMV seen in Bryanka (Luhansk Oblast)
Even earlier, on February 3, 2015, the R-330KVM vehicle was noticed in Bryanka (Luhansk Oblast). It was moving from Alchevsk towards Bryanka. An eyewitness made the photo from his window so we had to crop it to avoid the source location identification. In the picture we can see that the swimming shields are attached and the last section of the telescoping mast is extracted – it seems that the vehicle is changing its location.
Taking into account the date and place of this command point appearance we can state that it took part in Debaltseve capturing in February, 2015. And since other unique machines (like the latest radio station R-166-0,5, in Russian) were seen during that operation, we can assume that Russia uses the full range of non-lethal weapons in the war against Ukraine. Talks about war trophies are senseless – Russian army got all this equipment only in the last several years and it was never in service in the Ukrainian army.
Russian missile complex ‘Buk-M1’ on Volvo FH-13 truck in Luhansk
Getting back to the pictures of the army equipment on the civil trucks we should mention that such way of transportation was used not for the first time. For example, the case of MH17 crash contains photos of the ‘Buk-M1’ missile system transported by Volvo FH-13 truck, which was later seen at the militants’ armor vehicle base in Snizhne. The struggle of the Russian-separatist forces to use civil trucks may be caused not only by their desire to mask weapon transportation facts but also by low reliability of the army trucks which periodically cause the road incidents.
Let us remind you that we identified the exact location of another Russian R-330Zh ‘Zhytel’ [Resident] jamming station in the beginning of July, 2015.
Original article translated by Oleksandr Klymenko
Read the latest book “Donbas in Flames. Guide to the Conflict Zone” published by Prometheus Center. This guide will be useful to journalists, researchers, war experts, diplomats and general readers seeking information on the war in Donbas.
15 Responses to “The Newest Electronic Warfare Systems ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ are Noticed at the Border And in Donbas”
07/29/2015
MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 291520UTC July 2015 | MILNEWS.ca Blog[…] “The Newest Electronic Warfare Systems ‘Borisoglebsk-2′ are Noticed at the Border … […]
11/23/2015
¿Cuánto Rusia gasta en la guerra de información en Ucrania? - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] “Borisoglebsk-2” (código de RB-301B – de reconocimiento y de supresión de los sistemas, […]
11/23/2015
Ile Rosja wydaje na wojnę informacyjną przeciwko Ukrainie? - InformNapalm.org (Polski)[…] „Borisoglebsk-2” (kod RB-301B – funkcje wywiadowcze i zakłócanie systemów mobilnych i łączności radiowej […]
05/02/2016
EW ruso en los combates en Donbass - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] El complejo de inferencias KV y URV de la comunicación “Borisoglebsk-2” (En 2009-2010, el complejo pasó una primera prueba. En 2013 la asociación YUVO recibió alrededor de 8 complejos de RB-301B “Borisoglebsk-2”), uno de los vihículos del complejos, presumiblemente punto de control P 330KMV se observamos en el verano de 2015, cuando para la transferencia usaban los vehículos civiles en la región de Rostov. Anteriormente, en febrero de 2015 en la ciudad de Luhansk región Bryanka, y en marzo de 2015 en el Lugansk. Los últimas complejos rusos EW “Borisoglebsk-2” fueron grabados en la frontera y en el…. […]
05/06/2016
Russian electronic warfare stations in Donbas - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] of the modern Russian EW systems “Borisoglebsk-2” spotted in the Donbas conflict area The Newest Electronic Warfare Systems ‘Borisoglebsk-2’ are Noticed at the Border And in Donbas Automated jamming station R-934UM was put in service in 2008-2010. One unit was identified by […]
05/07/2016
Ryska EW-stationer i Donbass - InformNapalm på svenska[…] en enhet nära i staden Brjanka (nära Luhansk) i februari 2015 och i Luhansk i mars 2015. Mer information om dessa moderna system «Borisoglebsk-2» i vår artikel: «The latest electronic warfare system Borisoglebsk-2 observed near the border and in […]
05/08/2016
Estación de complejos de guerra electrónica P-378B "Borisoglebsk-2" en Donbass - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] la mención y colocación de la foto y lugar de fijación de EW complejo “Borisoglebsk-2» en 2014-2015. Notamos una foto de 3 de […]
09/13/2016
Baza danych i grafika wideo najnowszego uzbrojenia Sił Zbrojnych Rosji na Donbasie - InformNapalm.org (Polski)[…] Śledztwo nr 1 Śledztwo nr 2 […]
09/17/2016
Naujausios Rusijos ginkluotės Donbase duomenų bazė ir video grafika - InformNapalm.org (Lietuvių)[…] Tyrimas №1 Tyrimas №2 […]
09/17/2016
Database and Video Overview of the Russian Weaponry in the Donbas - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] Investigation #1 Investigation #2 […]
09/19/2016
Databas och videoöversikt av ryska vapen i Donbass - InformNapalm på svenska[…] Investigation #1 Investigation #2 […]
09/19/2016
Base de datos y videográfica de armas modernas de las Fuerzas Armadas de Rusia en Donbáss - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] Detalles de identificación: episodio 1, episodio 2 […]
09/23/2016
Stacja zakłóceń radiowych „R-378B” systemu walki radioelektronicznej „Borisoglebsk-2” na Donbasie - InformNapalm.org (Polski)[…] o aluzjach i miejscu dokumentacji systemu „Borisoglebsk-2” w latach 2014-2015. Popatrzmy na zdjęcie z 3 lutego 2015 r., kiedy […]
09/23/2016
L'aperçu des équipements modernes russes présents dans le Donbass (base de données et vidéo) - InformNapalm.org (Français)[…] Enquête 1 Enquête 2 […]
10/17/2016
Avancerade ryska telekrigssystem avslöjade i östra Ukraina - InformNapalm på svenska[…] ❶ Ryssland använde R-330ZH i slaget vid Debaltseve ❷ De ryska ESM-systemen Torn och Taran på krigsbasen Sparta i Donetsk ❸ Russian Taran complex in the battles of Debaltseve ❹ The latest EW-system Borisoglebsk-2 observed in and at the Donbass boundaries […]