According to US military experts, a wide range of Russian military equipment, which has fallen into the hands of Ukrainian forces since February 24, could prove to be a "gold mine" for US and Western intelligence agencies. As the war enters its third week, there is well-founded information that Ukrainian forces have come into possession of numerous Russian military equipment dedicated to command and control.
Some of the confiscated Russian weapons also include Pantsir surface-to-air missile systems and multiple launch thermobaric rocket systems, the TOS-1A. Ukrainians claim to have also captured Russian fighter jets, such as the Sukhoi Su-34.
The government of Kiev, in this regard, sensitizes Ukrainian regular troops and paramilitaries to preserve the integrity of the confiscated Russian military equipment consisting of helicopters, warplanes and ground weapons systems. The military has primary orders to preserve Russian language employment manuals as well.
US magazine Newsweek, citing former US military personnel, said the war in Ukraine offers Washington a rare opportunity to get its hands on the latest Russian military equipment.
On this delicate matter, a cooperation agreement has existed for a long time between American and Ukrainian intelligence in sharing all captured military and intelligence equipment. In today's digitalized combat environment, modern equipment includes microchips and encrypted systems that enable communication with command and control stations. The software found is of paramount importance to rival intelligence agencies, as it is used to discover encryption systems and develop malware. Such malware can then be spread during combat, with disastrous consequences for the opposing army.
Some of this equipment may be so crucial that "it's like capturing an Enigma machine“, An expert told Newsweek, referring to the sophisticated encryption device used by the Wehrmacht during World War II to protect its military communications. Such equipment can potentially be decrypted and then shared by the United States with other Western intelligence agencies, with the aim of developing ways to block, sabotage, or otherwise compromise it, experts said.