Russian troops in occupied Ukraine are struggling in the dark due to of a shortage of adequate night-vision goggles and low-light cameras for their drone aircraft.
The trend was first noticed at the start of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of its neighbor in February 2022 and the situation has not improved, British officials said this week.
Military night-vision goggles are often featured high on the lists of equipment Russian soldiers in Ukraine request from friends and supporters, analysts said.
“Ukrainian forces have often been equipped with night vision devices from international partners,” U.K. defense officials said on X.
Some Russian officials have acknowledged that Kyiv leads in night-vision capabilities because of its technical support from NATO and other allies.
“Yes, everything is clear as day. Imported equipment has excellent night optics,” Russian military reporter and blogger Alexander Sladkov wrote on his Telegram social media page. “They can drive, conduct observation, take aim, and control the accuracy of the fire. That’s why the enemy chooses night.”
A lack of adequate night-vision gear in the Russian army may involve more than merely a temporary shortage of equipment. In their latest assessment of the battlefield in Ukraine, British intelligence officials this week noted that Russian military training rarely emphasizes night exercises.
Instead, the training typically builds towards large, set-piece daylight events in order to “impress visiting senior officers,” U.K. defense intelligence officials said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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