The Electronic Warfare Troops (radioelektronnaya bor'ba, REB) fight the battle in the electromagnetic spectrum. They disrupt enemy radar, communications, satellite navigation (GNSS) and drones, and at the same time protect the own air-defence sites against detection and precision weapons. Formally the REB is an independent supporting arm — under the EW commander and the General Staff — but in the air-defence battle it is indispensably interwoven with RTV, ZRV and fighters.
Command
The EW assets are directed via the automated Bylina system (RB-109A), which distributes targets in the spectrum across the available jammers. The large EW brigades fall under the military districts (Joint Strategic Commands); the 15th EW brigade (Tambov) reports directly to the General Staff / the EW commander as a strategic reserve.
Unit structure
| Echelon | Level | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| EW brigade | district / strategic | ± four battalions with the heaviest, area-covering systems |
| EW battalion | operational | Several companies, task-divided across the spectrum |
| EW company | tactical (at manoeuvre brigade) | Staff + ± six platoons, each for a frequency band/task |
| Platoon / complex | executing | One system type (radar, comm, GNSS or UAS jamming) |
Example systems
| System | Band / type | Task |
|---|---|---|
| Krasukha-2 (1RL257) | S-band, long range | Specifically against airborne radar (AWACS/A-50) and air-search radars — blinds combat control at distance |
| Krasukha-4 | X / Ku-band, broadband | Against fighter fire-control radar, SAR reconnaissance satellites, ground-surveillance radar and missile seekers |
| Murmansk-BN | HF, theatre range | Interception & jamming of HF communications (hundreds of km) |
| Moskva-1 / Divnomorye | passive / multifunctional | Passive ELINT and control of other EW assets |
| Borisoglebsk-2 / Palantin | VHF/UHF | Suppressing comm and navigation channels, drone control |
| Zhitel (R-330Zh) / Leer-3 | GNSS / GSM | Satellite navigation and GSM jamming, drone disruption |
Both are called "Krasukha" but have a different role. The Krasukha-2 targets the long-range S-band of airborne radar (AWACS type) — it deafens enemy combat control. The Krasukha-4 covers the higher X/Ku bands and jams fighter fire control, SAR reconnaissance satellites and ground radar. Together they overlap the radar spectrum from strategic to tactical.
EW has proved decisive in Ukraine's drone war: GNSS and radio-link jamming disables FPV drones and guided munitions, while both sides constantly develop countermeasures. At the same time EW systems are themselves prized targets — knocking them out opens the spectrum for the adversary.