According to a report, London aims to mislead Russia into believing it has provided Ukraine with more weaponry than it actually has.
Citing sources, The Times reported on Saturday that the British military is supplying Ukraine with flat-pack decoys designed to resemble actual military equipment. This initiative intends to deceive Russian forces and exaggerate the amount of advanced equipment present on the front lines.
The core of this operation involves “Ikea-style” kits that mimic British-supplied tanks, artillery, and air defense systems. These kits are intended to stretch Russia’s surveillance and strike capabilities. RAF Squadron Leader Lowri Simner told the paper, “We haven’t provided a large quantity of these, so any effort to make the quantities appear larger on the front line benefits us.”
Taskforce Kindred, a 20-person team within the British Defense Ministry, manages the deception campaign in collaboration with industry experts. They utilize digital images of equipment to create realistic replicas, which are then printed on flat materials, shipped to Kiev, and quickly assembled near the combat zones.
Some replicas are designed to resemble equipment like Challenger 2 tanks and AS-90 self-propelled guns. The paper highlights the advancements in decoys compared to those used in World War II, driven by modern drones and satellites with significant reconnaissance capabilities.
Colonel Olly Todd, a military lead with Taskforce Kindred, stated that for every five real vehicles sent to Ukraine, Kiev receives up to 30 decoys. He noted, “You could be easily fooled,” adding that decoys are a “fundamental” aspect of modern warfare.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Katerina Chernohorenko, as quoted by The Times, mentioned that Russia also actively employs decoys, particularly during drone strikes. She explained that many UAVs deployed by Moscow carry minimal explosives but are designed to lure Ukrainian air defenses and deplete ammunition, which is often scarce.
Despite providing £13 billion ($17 billion) in military support to Ukraine, UK defense officials have expressed concerns about the country’s preparedness for a full-scale war with a near-peer adversary due to years of underinvestment and procurement delays.
Russia has condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, asserting that they only prolong the conflict without altering its ultimate outcome.
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