Ukrainian resistance cripples Russian electronic warfare system
Partisans from the Atesh resistance movement have reported a successful sabotage operation. This time, the efforts of the Ukrainians led to the disabling of the Russian RP-377LA Lorandit electronic warfare system. The method used to deprive the Russians of this valuable equipment has garnered attention.
A video appeared on the official Atesh profile on Telegram, showing Ukrainians pouring sugar into the fuel tank of the self-propelled RP-377LA Lorandit electronic warfare system. The description accompanying the video indicates that the efforts were successful, leaving the Russian equipment immobilized. Ukrainian agents confirmed the failure three days after the operation.
Ukrainians eliminated the RP-377LA Lorandit
A clear advantage for those conducting such an operation is the ability to act quietly and retreat to safety. The scale and extent of the damage depends on several factors. Pouring sugar into the tank risks damaging various fuel system components (such as the fuel filter or injectors in diesel engines) and can even lead to engine seizing.
Atesh: A thorn in the side of the Russians
The Atesh partisan group was initially associated with monitoring Russian movements in occupied Crimea. They frequently reported to the Ukrainian army (and later the public) about Russian efforts to protect the Crimean Bridge or move equipment, such as at Saki airport.
Thanks to the activities of Atesh agents, locations of many improvised weapons depots of Putin's army have been identified. This is not limited to occupied Crimea but extends to Russian territory, where they are growing more confident. This confidence is evidenced by the discovery of depots with KH-22 missiles in the Leningrad Oblast. Members of the Atesh group are also operating in Moscow and even around Putin’s palace in Sochi, where they located the Pantsir-S1 air defense system last year.
The RP-377LA Lorandit is not among the most modern electronic warfare systems used by the Russians, but the war in Ukraine has demonstrated that such equipment is very valuable to both sides. The RP-377LA Lorandit is built on a UAZ-452 chassis and operates at a frequency of 20-2000 MHz with a scanning speed of 65 MHz/s.
