Russia\u2019s lower house of parliament has proposed punishing Russian soldiers caught using smartphones while fighting in Ukraine, state media TASS reported, amid growing concerns that electronic devices can reveal troops\u2019 location on the battlefield. <\/p>\n
According to a draft law supported by the State Duma Committee on Defense, carrying internet-connected cell phones whose data can identify Russian troops or the location of forces will be classified as a \u201cgross disciplinary offense\u201d punishable by up to 10 days of arrest. Multiple offenses could lead to up to 15 days of arrest. <\/p>\n
The law would also prohibit the use of other electronic devices meant for \u201chousehold purposes\u201d which allow for video and audio recording and the transmission of geolocation data. <\/p>\n
Both Russian and Ukrainian militaries have reportedly used enemy cell phones to identify targets during the war, scraping data from photos and messages to track coordinates and launch attacks. <\/p>\n
The United States and its \u201cFive Eyes\u201d intelligence allies \u2013 Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom \u2013 warned last year that Russian military hackers had been targeting Ukrainian soldiers\u2019 mobile devices in a bid to steal sensitive battlefield information. <\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s Security Service (SBU) also assessed that Russian hackers had sought to infiltrate the Android tablets used by the Ukrainian military for \u201cplanning and performing combat missions,\u201d using code designed to steal data sent from the devices to Elon Musk\u2019s Starlink satellite system, which have been crucial to Ukraine\u2019s battlefield communications. <\/p>\n
After a Ukrainian strike that killed nearly 100 Russian troops in the occupied Ukrainian city of Makiivka on New Year\u2019s Day last year, Russia\u2019s Defense Ministry said the \u201cmain cause\u201d of the strike was the widespread use of cell phones by Russian soldiers, although some officials questioned that assessment. <\/p>\n
Although the Kremlin has acknowledged the risks posed by soldiers carrying cell phones, Russian military bloggers have criticized the draft law, claiming it shows the Duma\u2019s lack of understanding of the nature of modern warfare. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe bosses live on another planet,\u201d one blogger, called \u201cObsessed with the Z War,\u201d wrote on Telegram on Monday. <\/p>\n
Another blogger, Veteran Records, said: \u201cNowadays, gadgets are needed in war not just by individual specialists, now literally every soldier needs a gadget in war. And this is not a luxury or a whim \u2013 it is a necessity dictated by time and circumstances.\u201d <\/p>\n
Instead of \u201cuncontrolled\u201d gadgets like smartphones, the blogger suggested creating a \u201ccontrolled\u201d gadget that cannot reveal sensitive battlefield information. \u201cIf we can\u2019t create a gadget ourselves, let\u2019s ask the Chinese, they\u2019ll do anything for money,\u201d they wrote. <\/p>\n
Russian soldiers are already banned from publicly distributing information that could reveal the identity or location of military personnel. <\/p>\n
Under Russia\u2019s legislative process, draft laws must first be considered by the Duma, before progressing to the Federation Council, the upper house. The Council cannot amend laws passed by the Duma, but can approve or reject them. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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