Ukraine War
Russia’s ERA Secure Military Phone System Craps Out in Ukraine
Call the commander, soldier? A spectacular own goal by Russia’s military fucks their command and control
Yes, the Russians would have done better with bicycles in Ukraine recently, after a spectacular own goal in military communications.
The Russians bombed the cellphone towers in the Ukraine and then found that their secure battlefield Era phone system would not work.
Investigative journalism organization Bellingcat revealed that Russian troops have switched off their encrypted phone system and used normal phones with local sim cards during the invasion.
The Russian military had been using an encrypted communication system called “Era” to communicate with commanders and fellow soldiers to prevent eavesdropping.
However, since the 3G/4G towers needed for Era to operate have been destroyed, Ukrainian intelligence has intercepted phone calls, including one made by a Federal Security Service (FSB) field officer informing officials in Russia of the death of Major General Vitaly Gerasimov.- Source defensepost.com
These are selected tweets from Bellingcat exec Christo Grozev (Bellingcat exec director. Emmy & Nannen Prize for investigative journalism 2021, European Prize for Investigative Journalism and London Press Club Prize 2019.)
So, the Russian secure military phone system craps out in the Ukraine. It relies on existing cellphone infrastructure. What fucking idiot designed that?
I make no apologies for profanity. I hate what Putin is doing. I worked in Russia for a couple of years and found the people fascinating and challenging, well-educated and still trying to adjust to the end of the Cold War. They got easier after a bottle of vodka. I like the people, the culture and the vodka. I’ve worked in the Ukraine too.
No, I am not in the military, never have been. But I feel that I am on the front line in war, albeit on social media — and the war is being fought here too.
Usually, I stay well away from politics on social media. But it’s different this time around. It’s really fucking serious. WWIII is not far away.
I’m hooked into Telegram, monitoring the @Ukrainenowenglish channel; I’m doing all can to promote samizdat, disseminating news.
This war is different. Wherever you are you can play your part.
Starlink is a vital part in the Ukraine comms infrastructure, and I’ve just been reading Will Lockett’s piece in Predict about the several ways in which Elon Musk has been a real pain in Putin’s arse.
We should do all that we can to help the Ukraine — and the ordinary Russian men and women in the ulitsa (street).
Here you go: pass it on, share it.
How to get around the BBC block in Russia:
The Russian authorities have restricted access to BBC websites in Russian and English, as well as other international and independent media, accusing them of circulating “false information” about what is happening in Ukraine.
In response, the BBC said “access to accurate, independent information is a fundamental human right which should not be denied to the people of Russia, millions of whom rely on BBC News every week”.
Record numbers of people have read the BBC’s Russian language news website since the invasion.
To get around the BBC ban in Russia:
- Download the Psiphon app from the AppStore or Google Play Store
- Look for the dedicated BBC site on the Tor Browser
which can be found using this URL
- . Note that this URL only works using the Tor Browser or the Onion Browser (on iPhones)
- If access to the apps is restricted then send a blank email to [email protected] or [email protected]. An email will be sent in response with a direct and safe download link
The BBC has also launched two new shortwave frequencies broadcasting World Service English news for four hours a day to Ukraine and parts of Russia:
- 15735 kHz from 14:00 GMT to 16:00 GMT
- 5875 kHz from 20:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT
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…techno fuckups, piss-poor planning and mad unnecessary wars
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