Donbas has become for the Russian Federation not only a platform for recycling of old armaments, but also a training range for combat testing the latest military hardware.

The international community InformNapalm while monitoring social network accounts of Russian servicemen and militants fighting in Donbas, has collected information on more than 30 types of weaponry and equipment not operated by the Ukrainian Army, that have been supplied by the Russian Federation to wage war in the east of Ukraine.

In Ukrainian and foreign press, there have been repeated reports of Rtut-BM, an upgraded Russian station for jamming radio controlled proximity fuses of ammunition being used in Donbas hostilities. However, there have been no photos or video footage confirming these statements yet. In the course of OSINT activities the volunteers of InformNapalm found pictures of the mentioned station on a female terrorist’s social network page.

• Digest of reports about Rtut-BM stations detection

  Digest of reports of the National Security Council and the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine about Rtut-BM stations detection

  Deployment of Russian systems of electronic warfare Rtut was detected in Donbas. The Deputy Secretary of National Security Council and Defense of Ukraine (NSDC), Alexander Litvinenko reported the facts at a meeting of the inter-parliamentary council Ukraine – NATO in June, 2015.

  On July 20, 2016 Ukrainian military intelligence reported on the use of multifunctional  Rtut-BM system by Russian occupation troops west of Horlivka.

  A few days later on July 25, 2016, NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said that the Russian General Staff continues to use the occupied territory of Donbas to test new weapons in bloody provocations, and listed a number of new models of Russian military equipment, with the multifunctional Rtut-BM system among them.

On the photo posted by the female terrorist in late July 2015, a tactical sign “25 in a rhomb” is visible on the armor of the station. Russian occupation troops use such tactical signs in the territory controlled by the DPR terrorist organization. This sign is likely to belong to the so-called separate EW company, (military unit 08821), located in Donetsk (today the tactical sign of this unit is modified to “25 in a trapezoid”). Also, on the vehicle body one can see the original vehicle side number 412 , which they obviously have tried to wipe off.

• Background information about Rtut-BM Station

  SPR-2M Rtut-BM is a modern upgrade of SPR-2 Rtut-B (GRAU index – 1L29 ).  The system reliability got increased as well as its functionality enhanced. VHF radio connection jamming was added.

  The station is a type of electronic warfare designed to reduce the impact of artillery rounds on friendly troops and armored vehicles by influencing the operation of radio controlled proximity fuses. SPR-2 is able to cause premature explosion at a safe height or switch the fuse into contact mode. The main areas of use are the first echelon troops, command posts, concentrations of troops and missile launchers. Also, the Rtut-BM can be used to protect the moving objects at pontoon bridge crossings.

  Rtut-BM covers an area of about 50 hectares with radio-electronic dome, and shells approaching protected objects are detonated at the altitude of 200-300 meters. Rtut-BM system is also able to resist not only radio controlled fuses. If necessary, it can be used to jam the airborne and ground VHF radio and radar systems of reconnaissance planes.

  For comparison, we present photo of the system from the exhibition pavilion of the Russian state corporation Rostec.

  

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At the moment, it’s not possible to specify the precise location of the station, using the photo, found on the terrorist’s social network page, but the search continues.

To assist in locating approximate area in which the Russian terrorist has been noticed, we publish several photos of the same period (July) 2015.

UPD: “Russian complex SPR-2M Rtut-BM in Donetsk (coordinates)”

This material was prepared for publication by Vidal Sorokin

Translated by Mc Joy

Edited by Artem Velichko

(CC BY 4.0) Information specially prepared for InformNapalm.org site, an active link to the authors and our project is obligatory for any reprint or further use of the material.