The Ukrainian military recently released photos and videos showcasing one of Russia’s most recent attempts at breaking Ukraine’s defenses – quirky camouflage costumes designed to make the wearer harder to detect against the white backdrop of the snow-covered battlefield. Only they don’t seem to be working very well. If anything, they only make the wearer easier to spot.
Clips of Russian soldiers wearing white thermal ponchos that, at first glance, make them look like giant penguins have been doing the rounds on social media, inspiring all sorts of hilarious comments. The bulky camouflage comes complete with beak-like hoods designed to complete the giant penguin look, even though penguins are not native to Ukraine.
The bizarre camouflage is reportedly very cheap, but that is the one positive thing that can be said about it. Even though it might help make wearers harder to detect by the naked eye in snow-covered environments, modern military rarely relies on simple human vision. Drones equipped with thermal cameras and motion detectors patrol disputed battlefront lines, making it very hard for camouflaged soldiers to sneak through.
Ukrainian intelligence claims at least two Russian giant penguins were neutralized by drones as they were trying to traverse open fields wearing the goofy costumes. Nighttime might have given them an advantage, but in broad daylight, they stood out like a sore thumb, even against the snowy backdrop.
The giant penguin camouflage suits have been getting a lot of attention in the media, but experts say that they are just another attempt by the Russian military to field-test new equipment without prolonged testing or refinement, at the cost of conscript lives.
