How the Ukrainians found the basis of Rubicon elite drone operators. The mistake made by Russian television
A propaganda clip, part of a report whose protagonist was Vladimir Soloviov, a Kremlin's propagandist TV and a propagandist vocal, exposed the secret basis of the Rubicon Drone Unit, of the Russian army, a broad investigation of Radio Liberty shows.
A detail in the background of a building, which the Russian television failed to bluish, exposed a crucial indication of the place where it could be based on the “rubicon” unit, the newest drive of the Russian army. This is a toilet sign, located above the doors.
The indications revealed in Soloviov's report allowed the corroboration with other identification elements that appear in two other, older public videos, in which certain elements have been blurred, but not enough to be recognized.
The first video was published by the Ministry of Defense on Telegram in October 2024; The second is a TV report from February, made by the propagandist from Moscow, Vladimir Soloviov; The third was published on the Telegram of Rubicon in August, to celebrate the first year since its establishment, in July last year.
The analysis shows that the headquarters of Rubicon is the Center for Conventions and Exhibitions Patriot, located 50 kilometers southwest of Moscow.
In all video recordings the crucial details are blurred, but in Soloviov's video, they are visible, probably due to a omission to Russian television.
In a scene, a bright indicator for the sanitary group, which alternates periodically between Russian and English, also appears in the promotional videos of the Patriot Exhibition Center. In a second fragment, Soloviov and his hosts pass a pillar with panels, speakers and other characteristic equipment for the location.
The RL also obtained access to images that had not been broadcast, including “patriotic” posters and obstacles used to train drone operators and vehicles frequently with Russian operations from the first line.
Starting from the “indications” given in Vileag by Soloviov, the visible elements in the other two videos, which had been better edited, also revealed some aspects of the Patriot center – such as metal trapes on the floor of a camouflage equipment and nets, characteristic of the exhibition halls.
The RL managed geolocalize places in the videos, identifying a parking lot near the main exhibition complex and the Rubicon headquarters, namely the C and D pavilions, located in the south of the Patriot exhibition center.
The Rubicon unit was set up for the purpose of developing and acquiring unanswered systems, designing tactics for drones on the battlefield, training drone operators and conducting its staff in the front line. It consists of seven separated units of up to 150 people who have offered important support to Russian forces, including this year's operations in the Kursk border region, respectively the Eastern Donetk region.
In May, the Ukrainians targeted with Drone the exhibition center, as well as a Panțir aerial defense system, in two separate attacks, according to RL. The attacks targeted the Rubicon headquarters, based on the information given in a villa by an error by Soloviov's report.
