Russian Neo-Nazi Volunteer Brigade Engages In Testing, Development Of Electronic Weapons Systems On Ukrainian Front

October 2024, several media outlets published a video address purportedly by a Russian soldier currently fighting in Ukraine. the short clip, the Russan serviceman complains that electronic weapons equipment purchased with funds raised for the unit was taken by a different unit for themselves and later installed on one of their vehicles. Russian troops suffer heavy losses due to FPV drones ("first-person view" drones where the operator can "see" what a pilot of the drone would see), the serviceman states, and lack Electronic Weapons systems to counter such tactics effectively. Some of the Russian Army units themselves strive to offset the shortfall in the supply of military electronic weapons systems by acquiring commercially available models and developing their own research and development programs.

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On October 10, 2024, the Telegram channel of the Russian neo-Nazi volunteer brigade, "Española," of the Russian Armed Forces, published a post dedicated to the role of FPV drones and electronic weapons systems in the war in Ukraine. The message stated that despite the fact that "shells, cluster munitions, artillery strikes, [and] mines" pose serious threats on the battlefield, "all this is a drop in the ocean compared to the swarms of FPV circling over the frontline, from which today there is no way to hide or escape…"

Additionally, the text notes that most existing electronic weapons systems cannot keep up with the constantly changing flight frequencies of attack drones. According to the post, Russian soldiers often have to use smoothbore carbines to shoot down FPV drones. The video enclosed with the Española post depicts this. There are many similar videos on social networks, as well as articles dedicated to the use of a shotgun or other small-arm weapon to combat UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). It appears that the lack of electronic weapons may be a widespread issue in the Russian army.

Interestingly, Española notes that it has its own design bureau, which developed effective stationary and portable electronic weapons systems, such as the so-called "Product N5," the manufacturing of which (as the unit's post hints) maybe soon work together with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

A screenshot shows Russian soldiers fending off an attack by an FPV drone with a shotgun.

Of course, the Russian army possesses modern electronic weapons systems, such as the Krasukha family of electronic weapons systems, the 1L267 Moskva-1 Complex, the Murmansk-BN shortwave coastal complex, the Repei'nik portable radar station for detecting ultra-small targets, the RB-341V Leer-3, which specializes in GSM cellular networks, and many others.

However, it appears these systems are not sufficient. There are numerous fundraising campaigns to purchase electronic weapons in the civilian market. For example, in the case of the 810th Brigade, an allegedly stolen electronic weapons unit was purchased with independently raised funds.

One nationalist organization regularly collects assets and supplies for the RAF soldiers, including electronic weapons units. Española and several other RAF divisions have their own small production facilities and even a design bureau. Nonetheless, Española experiences a shortage of drones and electronic weapons systems (possibly including repair and modification). On September 26, a post by the Russian Community Telegram channel stated it had purchased and supplied 15 mobile electronic weapons systems for Española. It should be noted that both Española and the 810th Marine Brigade are rather famous units, receiving a great deal of attention. Thus, fundraising opportunities abound, perhaps even including sponsorship opportunities. Española has bragged online that in terms of electronic weapons development: "[The] Brigade is confidently moving one step ahead of all participants in the current arms race." In 2023, Putin personally awarded the Española Marine Brigade the Order of Ushakov "for courage, bravery, and heroism demonstrated during military operations in the Rabotino area." It's quite possible that the poor situation regarding electronic weapons systems in other, less celebrated, units of the Russian army is even more acute.

Another Telegram launches regular campaigns to raise funds for soldiers of the Russian army, and also often writes about the need to purchase electronic weapons systems. In September 2024, the channel was raising funds for the Española Brigade and purchased two electronic weapons units.

In the most recent campaign, for the BARS-33 fighters deployed in the Kherson region, the group strives to purchase 1,400,000 rubles worth of electronic weaponry (about $14,400 USD). In many cases the money is held in Russian bank accounts belonging to individuals, not an organization.

Indeed, there are many commercially available electronic weapons units in the Russian civilian market. Products range from anti-thermal drone blanket (which hides the serviceman from the drone) and frequency jammers to stationary models and vehicle-mounted units.

Apparently, a lack of Russian military research and development, as well as in manufacturing capabilities, has led to the need to seek ad hoc solutions (especially in relation to portable electronic weapons systems). Private companies are emerging to offer commercial models, and some military divisions are cooperating with civilian design businesses to speedily apply combat experience in R&D to the development of electronic weapons. Competition between UAV and electronic weaponry leads, at times, to unusual solutions, including using fiber optic cables which allow the operator to maintain contact with a drone or vehicle even when the enemy's electronic weapons systems is operating. Physical damage to the optical fiber cable can disrupt the data transmission, however.