Russian troops set up vehicle mock-ups and mannequins on occupied roads

Attempt to deceive autonomous systems

Russian armed forces have begun actively installing mock-ups of mobile fire groups (MFGs) and mannequins in the roadside areas of temporarily occupied territories. Analysts believe this tactic is being employed to deceive unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence systems, which are capable of autonomously identifying and attacking targets.

OSINT analyst information

Experts from the Exilenova+ project reported on these facts. In the video recordings they published, three vehicles are shown positioned along a small section of road. These vehicles imitate Russian army mobile fire groups: stands are installed on the trunks, and a figure of a Russian soldier is placed on one of the mock-ups.

«Також нам повідомляють що подібна ситуація спостерігається і з постами вздовж трас, уздовж доріг облаштовують мініукриття, а подекуди бліндажі, розміщуючи всередині манекени у вигляді російських військових» (We are also being informed that a similar situation is observed with posts along highways; mini-shelters and, in some cases, dugouts are being set up along the roads, with mannequins in the form of Russian soldiers placed inside), the OSINT project stated.

Characteristics of strike UAVs

Exilenova+ believes that Russian forces are attempting to counter drones that use artificial intelligence for the autonomous detection and destruction of objects in this way. Modern strike drones of this type have a built-in system for detecting, identifying, and tracking targets. Such UAVs are capable of operating even under conditions of active electronic warfare.