Provides unique insight into Russian tactics • Used mannequins and fake combat vehicles
The documents are said to have been found by Ukrainian forces in a former Russian position in the Kursk region.
The findings consist partly of printed documents with orders issued from a higher place, partly of handwritten texts with information about the circumstances on the front. Some were written just six weeks before Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in the region in early August.
According to the documents, Russia must have known about the plans for a Ukrainian attack for several months. As early as the beginning of January, there were suspicions that a “breakthrough at the state border” was to be expected.
Abandoned his positions
Just over a month later, commanders in the fighting units warned of “a rapid Ukrainian advance in the Sumy region upwards of 80 kilometers into Russia”. In mid-March, a reinforcement of the defense line and increased training were ordered in anticipation of a potential Ukrainian attack.
In mid-June, Russia received more specific warnings that Ukraine was planning to take control of the city of Sudzha, which later happened.
Once Ukraine’s counteroffensive came on August 6, many Russian soldiers abandoned their positions.
“They fled without taking or destroying the documents,” says a Ukrainian soldier who is part of the force that found the documents.
Used mannequins and fake combat vehicles
The documents provide an insight into Russian tactics, and describe, among other things, how they worked with fake combat vehicles and mannequins to confuse Ukrainian attack drones. At night, a group of soldiers were sent to the decoys to light fires and walk around with torches to attract attention. They are also said to have had fake radio calls with the aim of being intercepted.
However, Ukraine has never encountered any of these decoys, and it is unclear if they were ever carried out.
The lyrics also reveal widespread concern about the morale of the Russian ranks. The issue is said to have become even more pressing after a Russian soldier killed himself after a “prolonged depression as a result of his service in the Russian army”.
The commanders are said to have received instructions to ensure that the soldiers take part in Russian media on a daily basis to keep the “psychological state” up.