Russia-Ukraine Flash Report for 5-12-22 10:50 PDT - What Could Possibly Go Wrong (Patreon)

In an attempt to minimize social intelligence on troop movements and suppress insurgent activity, Russia has disabled or severely curtailed cellular access in Luhansk, Kherson, and parts of the Kharkiv Oblasts.

The Russian secure communications system developed after the 2019 "Bellingcat Law" and the 2020 decision that Russian troops won't use foreign acquired phones, relies on 3G and 4G networks to operate.

Without the networks, communications at times have moved to other, unsecured resources. By developing a secure communication system reliant on existing infrastructure, the decision to disable the network to protect OPSEC makes OPSEC worse.