Based on research here's the layout of Russian military satellite communications at this time from Ukraine. 1st image is a sky view as you would see it from ground looking at the GEO satellites, 2nd a chart view of all assets visible and 3rd a map view. (1/n)
Understanding where command and control assets would need to view these satellites limits their tactical options to hide and helps one hunt them. (2/n)
A primer on the Russian military's MERIDIAN satellite constellation.
MERIDIAN is an High Earth Orbit (HEO) Russian military satellite designed to provide communications to northern latitudes (I.e. Russia et. al.). It is a modern version of the MOLNIYA constellation.
The MERIDIAN constellation is primarily designed to offer communications to high northern latitudes where access to GEO satellites could be difficult or impossible.
MERIDIAN satellites are known to operate on the following bands:
~279MHz, 484MHz, 990MHz (non-regenerative)
TT&C ~3410MHz
3400-3900MHz and 7500MHZ (+/- 80MHz) regenerative transponders.
Russian Geostationary assets are known to mirror these transponders to some extent.
This could be very well be a beacon of hope, the sound of resistance that can be heard around the world.
Russian military satellite MERIDIAN 8 reveals radar emissions that most are coming from Ukrainian forces defending themselves. After days of onslaught Ukraine stands.
This is the P-441 communication complex that the Russian military uses for MERIDIAN, RADUGA and maybe transponders on other assets. It uses C and X-band. On these bands a clear view of the satellite is needed. Many variants of this system exist. (1/n)
Tactically, you'd likely want to hid this thing as it's a critical asset and part of your command and control which limits your options to deploy it. MERIDIAN could give you the ability to hid it and use those satellites high elevation to advantage. From the operating manual...
So if your a commander in a tactically active environment not having a MERIDIAN for 8 hours could be a reason you need to take higher risk and expose the system for a view of a GEO satellite.
Unlike when MERIDIAN 3 went down they still had MERIDIAN 2 stranded in the wrong orbit but still operational and filling in some of the gap from time to time.
The world can observe Russian military activity on UHF, C and X-band via their communication satellites in GEO and HEO. Observers should scan 279 +/- 2MHz, 484MHz +/- 2MHz , 980-1000MHz, 3.4-3.7GHz and 7.5GHz +/- 100 MHz for activity from GEO and HEO assets. Reports to follow.
Search my profile @coastal8049 and use keywords like MERIDIAN to find details.
279MHz is expected to be fairly tactical communications. 484MHz tactical air et.al. 980-1000MHz major military bases and strategic air assets. 3.4-3.7 TT&C and tactical/strategic comms. 7.5GHz tactical and strategic comms.
The last observation before #Change5 'disappeared' after Dec 2nd, was 19 degrees from the Moon on the western side. Perhaps just before a burn!? This as you will see is significant to understand CE5's present trajectory and why I'm pretty much convinced it is in a DRO now. (1/n)
The geometry of Dec 2nd timing is curious to say the least. If you examine this plot you'll not there are a number of possible DROs. If you measure the elongation angles for the second closest to the Moon you get ~19 degrees. (2/n)
I'm not sure if it's required or just easier, but #NASA is using the elongation point to do their insertions to a DRO. It's referred to as a Distant Retrograde Insertion (DRI) of course!