Floréane Marinier
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Floréane Marinier
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Team ODIL.org / @checkfirst.network | Lutte contre la désinformation | Membre @ajlgbt.bsky.social | Elle/She/Her
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Reposted by Floréane Marinier
checkfirst.network
Each interception centre also has a unique way of depicting itself through its insignia, as can be seen in these two examples from our report.
Unit 03110 (1975): The oldest insignia linked to this unit features symbols such as tropical palms and a flag that confirm that it was previously stationed in Lourdes (Cuba), before being relocated close to Sotchi (Russia) in the late 2000s. Among the ten bases we have identified, this one is the only one that equipped its antennas with radomes designed to protect the equipment from weather and hide its orientation and specifications from unwanted eyes. These domes, which may contain a radar or a dish antenna, are even depicted on one of the unit's insignia, which also portrays the facility facing the sea, with mountains in the background. Unit 61608 (1918): The unit's insignia frequently feature symbolic representations of Moscow, including the Kremlin. The unit hosts more than a dozen parabolic antennas near the T-shaped control building, as well as pole antennas arranged in an antenna array slightly further north. It is situated south of Tsaritsyno Park, concealed within a dense forest in the heart of Moscow.
July 18, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Floréane Marinier
checkfirst.network
Thanks to phaleristics, we were able to gain insight into the unit's current
symbolism.
How the 16th Center depicts itself: The standard format of the shield and sword, symbols inherited from the KGB ; The Russian coat of arms (a double-headed eagle clutching a scepter and an orb surmounted by a cross, representing imperial authority and the Orthodox Church, respectively) ; A red background, a colour traditionally associated with the FSB. The Center portrays itself in two distinct ways: A terrestrial globe featuring the Russian Cyrillic letter "i". This letter is commonly associated with the Russian word "information" in Soviet and Russian security services, and could be a reference to the information the unit is capable of acquiring ; An antenna positioned next to a key being shattered by a lightning bolt. The antenna is a fairly common symbol of radio transmissions, but is also used to represent signals intelligence (SIGINT). The lightning bolt symbolizes the interception, disruption, and manipulation of enemy communications and radar systems. The key shattered by the lightning bolt is highly likely an explicit reference to cryptanalysis, the branch of cryptography dedicated to breaking codes and cryptographic systems.
July 18, 2025 at 7:36 AM