1/ A leaked order from the Russian army instructs military drivers to disguise their vehicles as civilian ones, repainting them in non-military colours and applying the logos of civilian organisations to their sides. However, this appears to violate the Geneva Conventions. ⬇️ 
2/ The 'Combat Reserve' Telegram channel has published an extract from the order, which reads:
3/ "3. In view of the enemy’s use of AI-powered strike UAVs, and in order to prevent incidents and avoid the destruction of military equipment during enemy UAV operations, as well as to safeguard the lives and health of service personnel, the formation commander has ordered:
4/ "That the commanders of military units and sub-units of the formation are:
– to repaint vehicles in colours that do not reveal their affiliation with the Russian Ministry of Defence;
– to repaint vehicles in colours that do not reveal their affiliation with the Russian Ministry of Defence;
5/ "– to apply patterns and advertising emblems of various civilian organisations to tarpaulins, doors and sides;
– to travel wearing standard issue body armour and helmets;
– to permit departure and movement only in the absence of enemy UAVs, primarily via alternative routes;
– to travel wearing standard issue body armour and helmets;
– to permit departure and movement only in the absence of enemy UAVs, primarily via alternative routes;
6/ "– to ensure that drivers are informed of the danger posed by unmanned aerial vehicles;
– assign an observer to each vehicle whilst on the move to monitor the air situation;
– assign an observer to each vehicle whilst on the move to monitor the air situation;
7/ "– during briefings, ensure that drivers and senior vehicle commanders are informed of the procedure to follow upon detection of enemy UAVs;
– travel primarily in inclement weather;
– travel primarily in inclement weather;
8/ "4. Entrust the supervision of compliance with these instructions to the commanders of military units."
'Combat Reserve' expresses scepticism, pointing out that it's hard to disguise a military vehicle as a civilian one.
'Combat Reserve' expresses scepticism, pointing out that it's hard to disguise a military vehicle as a civilian one.
9/ Given that the drones' AI system likely identifies vehicles by shape, visual disguises aren't likely to be very effective anyway.
There is however a more serious issue: it's literally a war crime, specifically the crime of perfidy.
There is however a more serious issue: it's literally a war crime, specifically the crime of perfidy.
10/ Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts (Additional Protocol I), of June 8, 1977, outlaws the use of perfidy in warfare.
11/ Under Article 37 "Prohibition of perfidy", it bans "1 (c) the use of distinctive signs, emblems or the uniform of civilians." This would likely apply to the use of civilian logos on vehicles.
12/ This was enacted to protect civilians from being attacked. By disguising their military vehicles as civilian ones, the Russians are making it more likely that the Ukrainians will attack civilians by mistake, resulting in unnecessary civilian suffering. /end
Source:
t.me/rodinarussia27…
t.me/rodinarussia27…
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