Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ The Starlink shutdown has reportedly made 'flag-sticking' – one of the most suicidally dangerous and militarily useless Russian combat missions – even more lethal. Deprived of high-speed Internet, Russian soldiers now have to courier drone videos on USB sticks. ⬇️

2/ 'Flag-sticking' is the practice of sending a small group of soldiers to carry a Russian flag to a Ukrainian-held settlement and unfurl it prominently, to be videoed by a Russian drone for a commander's video report to his superiors, so that he can falsely claim a capture.

3/ This often turns out badly for everyone except the commander. The soldiers are often killed shortly afterwards, having exposed themselves to Ukrainian drones, and many Russian soldiers die when they enter a settlement that is supposedly now Russian-held.

4/ Generals draw maps showing the front line kilometres ahead of where it actually is, leading to bad tactical and strategic decisions. Meanwhile, the commander who ordered the settlement 'taken on credit' is rewarded with cash bonuses, medals, and promotions.

5/ Until Starlink was shut down, the Russians used it to transmit drone videos to commanders for review. This is no longer possible and the only alternatives, the Gazprom Yamal satellite system and Wi-Fi bridges, are slow, bulky, expensive, unreliable, and in short supply.

6/ 'Combat Reserve' on Telegram posts a report from a frontline contact noting that in the absence of Internet connections, soldiers are now having to risk their lives couriering USB sticks containing drone videos between the front line and headquarters:

7/ "Here's a quick rundown of what Wi-Fi bridges are for.

In reality, the connection technically exists, but it’s shaky at best. The “Tutus,” “Liras,” “Peanuts,” and other assorted junk are working, but as Krivoruchko used to say, “everything works” — yeah, right.

8/ "Some time ago, the brass saw that everything was working via Starlink and rushed to report that EVERYTHING IS FUCKING AWESOME AND WE’RE AHEAD OF THE WHOLE PLANET. They tied all operations to photo and video reporting as objective confirmation.

9/ "And when the white dish got switched off, what happened, happened. The whole constructed system collapsed.

Idiots are idiots everywhere, as it turned out — transmissions don’t go through on a Baofeng [analogue radio].

10/ "☝️😳 what, seriously????

So how are they supposed to send videos of successful strikes now without internet?

And what about their beloved flag-planting videos?

HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO JERK OFF TO THEM NOW WITHOUT ANY IMAGES?

11/ "That’s why a courier is running back and forth with flash drives, unloading and uploading them so that fresh information in the form of videos can be viewed and reported to the “higher mind.”

12/ "IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE SUCH FIGHTERS WHO HAVE NEVER HELD AN ASSAULT RIFLE OR A CONTROLLER IN THEIR HANDS, BUT THEY DRIVE AROUND IN A UAZ VAN WITH FLASH DRIVES FROM THE FRONT LINE TO HQ AND BACK.

13/ "LATER THEY’LL TELL EVERYONE HOW THEY WERE SMASHING THE UKROPS, BLOOD, SHIT, AND “GERMANS”
☝️😳😳😳😳

And by the way, where he brings those flash drives, there are always people sitting there editing and uploading videos." /end

Source:
t.me/rodinarussia27…