In British Ministry of Defense intelligence, an analysis was conducted on the challenges faced by Russian occupying forces during military operations in Ukraine at night.
This is outlined in an intelligence review by the agency on December 12.
According to the intelligence, numerous reports from participants in military actions since the beginning of the war emphasize the trend that Russian military forces experience difficulties conducting operations at night.
"in late November 2023, a social media user claiming to be a Russian soldier serving in Kherson highlighted the shortage of night vision goggles (NVGs) and low-light cameras for uncrewed aerial vehicles," the summary notes.
As analysts point out, night vision devices often appear on lists of equipment that Russian units request from their families and supporters. Ukrainian forces frequently receive night vision devices from international partners.
The British Ministry of Defense notes that these problems for Russians are also related to the fact that military training in Russia rarely focuses on night-time exercises.
"instead typically building towards set-piece, daylight events to impress visiting senior officers. In contrast, the Russian soldier claimed Ukrainian forces “move mostly at night"," the intelligence concludes.
