Does Russia sponsor terrorists in the Donbas and coordinate their actions via special complex Barrier-T?

At the end of May 2016, insiders from occupied territories provided the InformNapalm team with classified information on secure channels of satellite communications of the Russian armed forces, which Russia actively uses to coordinate actions of the militants under its control, as well as for managing Russian military units rotating in the Donbas. The portable communication stations R-438 Barrier-T and R-438-M Belozer and mobile complex R-441 Liven are used. Phone calls go through government communication satellite channels (by the Russian company Satellite Communications) via satellites of the Express-AM series.

Now, we found an image, posted by a militant at the end of January 2015. In this photo, there are two Barrier-T portable satellite communication stations, as well as an unidentified, for now, piece of Russian military equipment.

Information about and photos of the Barrier-T satellite communication station

The station is designed to provide satellite radio communications for units operating detached from the main forces, as well as for use as a commander’s personal station. It provides a full autonomy of operation transmitting voice, digital, and text messages, automated functional testing, and interface with a wide range of peripheral devices through ports RS-232C, C1-FL-BI. The radio station can be carried by one person.

Mode of work:

Duplex telecommunication;

Simplex data communication;

Formalized service communication mode;

Transfer rates of 1200 bps;

Two channel receiving mode.

The Barrier-T works via satellite repeaters and allows subscribers to communicate from any place on the planet as well as exchange digital and text messages. As compared to the stations of the previous generation, the data speed has increased by several times. On the move, the station is the size of a school backpack and can be carried by one person; it weighs 16 kg. Set up time is about 30 sec. The station provides formalized service communication and a secure telephone mode. The station operates in the range of 4 GHz to 6 GHz. Data transfer rate is 1200 bps. The advantages of satellite communication are a large range of reliable signals, especially in areas with difficult terrain, regardless of the weather conditions and time of day and year, and a highly secure protection. Yaroslavl Radio Manufacturing Plant started production of the portable satellite radio station R-438 Barrier-T in 1998-2000 and the R-438M Belozer in 2002-2003. There was information about the use of the Barrier-T portable satellite communication stations on the Prudboy training range in Volgograd Oblast of Russia in March of 2014.

When we were examining the roof of the building in the image, we discovered that this building was seen in another picture. At that time, it was a photo of a Russian serviceman from the 33rd Motorized Rifle Brigade , who has been fighting in Ukraine since at least 2015.

Then, a Shipovnik Aero Jamming Station was spotted on a football field, within one hundred meters of the building of the former Eastern Customs of the State Fiscal Service in Donetsk. It had been there since 2014.

Comparison of the two images proved that it is one and the same roof in both pictures.

Pegged wires were marked with green arrows and the stripes on the roof were marked with red arrows for the purpose of geolocation.

We also compared the satellite view of the roof with the view of the roof exit in the image.

Now, let’s have a look at the image of the unidentified Russian military equipment.

One can see a part of the satellite antenna (dish) in the image; its size is about 2 meters. This dish could have been identified by its specific fastening. Unfortunately, at present we could not find a suitable image of the antenna in the public domain. But, FOR EXAMPLE we provide a photo where a lower part of the antenna can clearly be seen.

We’d like to remind you that in the previous article , an unidentified antenna was spotted (marked with green) and below it there was an object which cannot be seen in the archived satellite images.

So many different antennas on the roof of the building and other special equipment might suggest that a headquarters or communication center of Russian occupation troops in the Donbas is located here.

Information by Vidal Sorokin specially for InformNapalm

Identification of special equipment by Dmitriy K.

Translated by Svitlana Kviatkivska

Edited by Svitlana Kemblowski