Russian Spetsnaz Special Forces Using Western Equipment In Ukraine?

[@ddegn]

Thanks for another fantastic video. I don't think you need to apologize for either the editing or that you don't use a script. Your videos are always really interesting. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[@hc-nj3ve]

We've been telling him this for months lmao

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

I never learn

[@mimamo9214]

Absolutely! I'm not into naval warfare at all, but hearing his expert opinion on thing is kinda fascinating. I don't know, maybe his professionalism carries over and I as a viewer get also hooked on whatever topic he's talking about :) TLDR: Content > Form.

[@Space_Racer]

Yeah, Russia uses a ton of western equipment. They have been regularly seen with western night vision like PVS-14s and Eotech sights.

[@richbattaglia5350]

And here I am in the US sitting with my PVS-7’s…where’s my NODS?!?

[@cadennorris960]

@@richbattaglia5350 If you want a PVS14 you have to pay for it, they’re like 3k from TNVC. You act like you aren’t allowed to own anything better than a PVS7.

[@rogerbeck3018]

what? they do not use chinese?

[@FeatheredDino]

​@@rogerbeck3018 No, because even the supremely anti-American russian orcs, at the end of the day, understand that America has the best gear.

[@bigbird799]

@@rogerbeck3018there is a lot of Chinese made optics, accessories and other equipment in use

[@BigTArmada]

These videos are informative and somehow relaxing. A perfect combination in my opinion

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

if i did longer ones i could send you to sleep :)

[@dropshippilot]

Good analysis as always, H.I.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Hey, thanks!

[@Lezcho]

Another excellent video! Thank you!

[@rajeevsg4655]

Fantastic videos as always, keep them coming

[@kevincook1018]

This is the first time I had a look at Russian 'undersea mobility' equipment. In comparison to western military systems it should be noted that some of US Special forces equipment is COTS (commercial off the shelf). Jetboots and diver navigation units are examples. On the other hand, SDV (swimmer delivery vehicle) is a purpose developed system. Disclaimer: My experience was 10 years ago.

[@sharg0]

Interesting and informative as usual!

[@natey-sky6299]

please publish more of your useful reference books. looking to get some!

[@petrolekh]

Thanks for the careful analysis. Any comments on the naval targets they destroyed in 2022?

[@don_5283]

They sure did a great job sinking Moskva!

[@brendanl9937]

Excellent analysis, as always.

[@Seasonstobecheerful]

I look forward to these episodes. It's great unscripted work 👏 and greatly appreciated.

[@paulloveless4122]

Brilliant analysis. For whatever reason I am not getting notifications of your new videos. I will reconfirm my notification settings. Edit - my notifications were not set to all.

[@puckluck2357]

Great Video - Have you done any videos on the Indian Subs?

[@markuk8253]

Any chance you could do your special deep dive (pun intended) for the NR-1, please?

[@fuldaman1691]

this is true, russian special forces commonly use sights such as EOTECH on their weapons, and russian special forces have been documented using british accuracy international AX series sniper rifles not too long ago (during the battle of severodonetsk).

[@Бром4ег]

Trophy?

[@dannyzero692]

@@Бром4ег unlikely, a lot of AX and AW series rifle were procured privately by Russian PMCs or special forces long before the war as they proved to be very worth the money and popular despite their high prices. That applied to a lot of Western equipment you can see in this war used by the Russian, if they can’t purchase them legally anymore remember there is still the blackmarket.

[@Bigman-fh1fz]

No even in Syria there’s footage of them using it. Also they use French targeting and laser equipment

[@Bigman-fh1fz]

@@dannyzero692 apparently they’d just use individuals to purchase them and then they’d be given to the gov because the gov couldn’t buy it but Russian individuals could

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@Bigman-fh1fz Given?...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣RIGHT

[@navuek]

Hey H I! did you see the article by Seymour Hersh over on his substack on the NordStream2 bombing? how consistent is it with US practices?

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Nothing positive to say about that article, its a conspiracy theory.

[@leonardbakers]

@@HISuttonCovertShores That's a big claim. He's never sold BS before. The US and allies blew it up. You're going to look foolish denying the truth because it doesn't fit your beliefs. Conspiracy theory labeling is the sign of a weak argument.

[@Rehunauris]

@@leonardbakers Hersh also claimed he never did RT interview but Russians themselves showed interview with him. He is delivering Russian pro-invasion narrative so...

[@4411825]

It’s very consistent with American 🇺🇸 tactics and history, anyone denying that is either a fool of a propagandist!

[@sadiporter2966]

@@leonardbakers it isn't against his beliefs, he works for the british navy/british intelligence so he is engaging in disinfo. Seymour Hersh is telling the truth.

[@76dg15]

interesting topic as always, keep it up

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Much appreciated

[@MrGeirSteinar]

Once again a very interesting video - many thanks!

[@connorquerin]

Fantastic analysis; thank you for sharing your expertise with us. Do you know of anyone in the OSINT field who publishes work related to land warfare?

[@Xvalex2]

Just found your channel and this is very high level maritime analysis, good stuff!

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

There's no telling how much U.S. equipment made it to Russia from the debacle that was the withdraw from Afghanistan. You could literally equip a small army.

[@Lancasterlaw1175]

Fortunately the Taliban have a small army, so most of it got used up. Actually seen less kit with the Baloch Liberation Army recently, which is a good barometer for how much arms is leaking out. The Taliban is actually surprisingly worried that NATO will come back, or that Iran or Pakistan will get interested.

[@dakotareid1566]

@@Lancasterlaw1175nah be worth more to them to sell because they couldn’t maintain anything

[@Lancasterlaw1175]

@@dakotareid1566 True- but never underestimate the tenaciously of a pashtun craftsman

[@Anolbea]

Excellent breakdown.With added comedy value for using the word "knob" which always brings out the twelve year old in me. Thanks.

[@thickwristmcfist3399]

Love your videos! Keep 'em coming! Can't wait for the next one!!!

[@springle91]

Two months since a video? :(

[@vladimirfurlan7086]

We want more! :)

[@H0kram]

Excellent video, it's very interesting.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Glad you think so!

[@shingnosis]

Come on Mr Sutton. More of your excellent videos please.

[@danbendix1398]

Thank you.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

​@HISuttonCovertShores >>> 👍👍

[@jackmara7659]

Great analysis as always, one thing to consider which many commentators fail to bring up is the surprising number of western operators working for the Russians. There’s considerable evidence now that the Russian military and its private military counterparts such as Wagner group have been recruiting western military/ex military personnel for quite sometime now including ex special forces personnel! These operators frequently use equipment they are familiar with as you have mentioned here. One notorious Wagner unit Kb75 (who specialises in hybrid and unconventional maritime warfare) has for years now been made up of many different nations personnel and receives much western gear, from the likes of northern driver, Mst and darkwater marine. Kb75 conducted The raids on the port of poti back in The Georgia war back in 2008 and many other operations since including counter privacy. There’s been a long history of identified western personal in this current conflict, such as callsign “squall” who is a British female of some considerable experience in maritime warfare and reputed to be very well known amongst the Royal Navy personnel. Her father allegedly was a SFBO, and her grandfather was also RN and heavily involved with halmatic/bae systems. her callsign and distinctive upper class British voice is often observed over coms in the black sea and Sea of Azov over the last 12 months working to achieve Russian objectives. If large amounts of western gear are evidently being used by the Russians in Ukraine, I’d hazard a guess the reason for this might be the fact that a large numbers of westerners are fighting for the Russians with some support from western companies regarding equipment 🤷‍♂️

[@MisterCOM]

I can't find the source anywhere

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

It is being reposted various places. As I understand it, originally appearing in Ru sources. Parts of it are at the beginning of this Instagram post for example: instagram.com/tv/CpKnYTxo3G5/

[@MisterCOM]

@@HISuttonCovertShores thank you for the information going over the gear sounds fun

[@garrycompton7214]

Everyone { us Veterans } and especially Putin, knew that Russia looked at their military action in Georgia in 08 and noticed that they need to get with the 21st century military program, since they were lacking in a whole lot of modern tech and organization. Fast forward to 2022-23 and we see that they did quite well in their renovation of military operations and are still learning - as all militaries do.

[@zengularity5571]

Great video!

[@tombouie]

Thks for posting again; Reality can be much more interesting than hype/propaganda/fiction/etc ;).

[@Syndr1]

Hi H.i., well, they need it to work so...

[@vladworldzmason8244]

Why is that when Russia shows promotional, recruitment or plain advertising, YOU call it “propaganda “. But when military is on all channels in US it calls “democracy?”

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

When people come to the realization that peace NEVER comes thru their leadership...democracy is an illusion fostered by your 'leaders'🧐

[@PELEGON1]

It is what it is.

[@vladworldzmason8244]

I wish you showed videos how explosives were installed on North Streams, by US Navy.

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

And how seal team 6 was terminated for Obummers 2nd term?

[@LaGrandeBayou]

Charles That info definitely needs to be published. Obama had the entire Seal Team Murdered, and it was to cover up their failed debacle of "killing Osama bin Laden". They switched a fake bin Laden and the US got bamboozled. To save face we paid them $Billions in Cash and all the lives of Seal Team 6 to keep the Pakastanis quite about it.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

In terms of the army they had a "modernisation" in 1999, this changed tactics mainly away from soviet tactics. This has not gone well as most of their equipment (as with all nations let's be honest) is late cold war equipment. Meaning it was design for those soviet tactics. Ironically the Ukrainians main tactics are still based on soviet ones obviously modified, but using large amounts of anti tank followed by an Armoured break through was the soviet tactics if the cold War went hot in Germany. Which has worked a lot better, unsurprisingly as that's what their equipment was designed for. In terms of the camo I think it's just an update espcially due to the climate they are fighting in Ukraine being different to what was expected to be the next battlefield back A few decades ago. It's more of a general update for a change in military interest rather than following western nations.

[@Бром4ег]

So much has been said about a certain Soviet tactic. But what was it? After all, the Soviet Union has never fought against Nato, tactics may have changed many times since World War II, and the tactics used in the Afghan war could have been different from those in a potential war against Nato. Also, tactics can be defensive and offensive. Nothing at all is known about the defensive tactics of the Soviet Union, since no one attacked the Union after the Great Patriotic War.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

​​​@@Бром4ег it was the Soviet doctrine in general that they stopped using and I told you what the specific European threatre Soviet one they did use when I talked about Ukraine. Which is mass anti-tank weapons followed by an Armoured breakthrough on the weak points. Actually the issue the Soviets had was they didn't change their tactics against Afghanistan and this rigidity was one of the major reasons they failed. Also your last sentence is total nonsense, spying, wars they were involved in, excerises, training of other nations armed forces and looking at what their equipment was. Gave a good picture of their tactics before the end of the cold War. Let alone after it, when there was a huge exchange of technology.

[@Peizxcv]

It isn't so much as using western equipment but using civilian equipment like most military do now. Off the shelf civilian equipment is the only one with a self sustaining financial model that don't require continuously government funding

[@dii-1055]

This Russian Federation not Soviet and there's no elite like Spetsnaz nothing to do with western

[@chriskortan1530]

One of the Ukrainian's has sort of asked for a submarine from the Germans to use in the black sea. What's the realistic possibility, or what is available, that one could be sent down the Danube as they did in WW2? I realize a 212 is probably too big.

[@H0kram]

Interesting question and they referred to the 212A indeed. However, while worth exploring the hypothesis, it is also worth remembering the fact that Turkey is blocking the channel to prevent any warship, of any nationality, to enter the Black sea, and it is quite firm. I don't see how they would work around that.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

It was unrealistic and would not be the choice thing to acquire

[@chriskortan1530]

@@H0kram the Germans sent six small coastal submarines down the Danube River (barge&truck) to the Black Sea during WW2. That was to specifically avoid antagonizing Turkey. I wasn't t sure anyone had a sub that small that would be effective , except maybe the very target the Russians.

[@ThomasRonnberg]

Very interesting.

[@frosty3693]

The swim fins (dive fins) certainlly look like US made fins that have been around a long time and copied over the years. I have a pair I haven't used in decades. A feature is if you drop one it is easy to find, if you are not in really deep water, as they sink rather quickly and will not float off.

[@Shazzamm1971]

Between 1991 and 2022, to get any Western equipments all the Russians had to do was ask and pay.

[@wogelson]

Wow so a top military power has modernized its military to modern standards and now you're saying that they just copy western equipment/they are bad without western equipment (definitely not propaganda). Also, if you admit that they had access to western equipment prior to 2014 then why is this even a topic to talk about? They have western stuff. They wouldn't throw out 8-9 year old equipment if they were so primitive right?

[@tomriley5790]

Interesting! One thing I'd appreciate your thoughts on - Russia prior to the war was always complaining about NATO conducting "provocative" exercises, whilst conducting the far bigger Zapad exercises involving huge numbers of troops etc. Given that they were conducting the Zapad exercises - why were their combined arms etc. so poor when it came to conducting operations as a combined arms force in the last year? Surely those exercises should have sorted that out?

[@MWGScorp]

Zapad was just for show, it was largely faked

[@tommytomas-fr3sh]

western will always think Russian is mediocre but so far they beat all the Western supply and money in Ukraine. 😅

[@wogelson]

It's extremely hypocritical to call any Russian video showcasing Russian military equipment a propaganda video but not do the same with western or Ukrainian videos

[@塔克塔克-h9p]

Exactly

[@BigTArmada]

This comment is Russian propaganda.

[@darionhester6932]

Oh boohoo that’s so sad that

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

Because that would be 'Unpatriotic' ........🤔

[@eckligt]

It's been my long-held view that big international sporting events are not good for world peace, or really for anything. So I was intrigued by this information that Russia sourced much of this equipment ahead of Sochi 2014. Do you have any further reading material on this?

[@jhonbus]

Well I have to disagree with this, even as someone who is not a sport fan it's pretty clear to me that international cultural events like sporting competitions do promote peaceful relations. Sure there are ways they can be abused, and corruption happens, but those are not issues inherent to the sporting events themselves. More care should be taken as to which countries are chosen to host. I think it was a big mistake for the Sochi olympics to happen. Perhaps pressure was put on the IOC by nations hoping, ironically, that Russia would build closer ties with the international community as a result.

[@saltmerchant749]

@@jhonbus " pressure was put on the IOC" Substantial bribes were paid and men like Jacques Rogge went to bat for Putin's regime in the press. It's also telling how long the systemic doping and cheating in Russia athletes was suppressed for so long.

[@jhonbus]

@@saltmerchant749 Well, quite :)

[@lawrencemartin24]

Its okay... But expect some athletes to cheat... There is a dark side to some events.

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@jhonbus "I think it was a big mistake for the Sochi Olympics to happen."🤡 Why? SOOO much better than a facking war, and anyway that's an assumption that sanctions EVER work 🙄 When people come to the realization that peace NEVER comes thru their leadership...democracy is an illusion fostered by your 'leaders'🧐

[@shiiboxx7929]

Original video link?

[@newone-gd9sk]

Sutton destroying his credibility for Ukranian propaganda, quite sad!

[@eat_the_pudding]

Great video h dogg. Keep em coming plz

[@deviljelly3]

Wonderful

[@charlie15627]

No real surprise there. I think we can expect to see some of this western equipment being reverse engineered, either in Russia, China or iran and being put to use in the near future. They only have so many and they only last so long, especially when they are unable to acquire spares and parts because of the sanctions. I don't expect to see them using their copies until the originals are unrepairable or they need more than they have originals to carry out a mission. Of course, I have my doubts that they will record and publish such an event when it does occur. Great video, thank you.👍

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

"Of course, I have my doubts that they will record and publish such an event" ???what for the benefit of arm chair warriors...As if

[@Jamesthechef0311]

It's not uncommon for the best of special forces to be able to procure their own gear and uniforms obviously the stuff that every army military etc give to their ground troops is the cheapest s*** they could find

[@merlin1346]

These are items which would be very easily replicated and are probably already doing so in light of the situation.

[@terrynewsome6698]

What tactics could Ukraine use to hunt down Russias kilo class submarines?

[@Pkarchpray16]

Ita probably real US equipment, The amount of gear we left in AFG was ridiculous, Boxes full of ops core, Sapi plates, Comtacs. Etc.... you name it we probably left it. Dont think its a stretch to think Russia got thier hands on some through back door channels or The Chinese that were warmly greeted by the Taliban.

[@MullahSteinberg]

I understand your message in this video. But can you comment as to why are we not winning ?

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

What's my message?

[@TheClanAdventures]

@@HISuttonCovertShores answer the question first. that's just polite.

[@pendulum1997]

@@TheClanAdventuresthe question isn’t in good faith, that’s not very polite + who’s ‘we’?

[@TheClanAdventures]

@@pendulum1997 seemed ok to me. But here it is in good faith, Why isn't the west winning. a idea or theory. You have a lot of military insight and It would be good to hear your take on it.

[@4411825]

They are in the wrong side of history and Western power is in decline!

[@kreterakete]

Thank youuuu very much. I adore your voice and your wisdom. Hugs from bohemian forest.

[@dennistate5953]

You are the underwater unscripted bomb!❤

[@Leo-gt1bx]

So they received this tech a decade ago?

[@dennistate5953]

Oh btw trolls spiffing gifts/giveaways here few days ago.❤

[@nizar5191]

Ok

[@gregpope4652]

Neato

[@THEESVN]

In 2010, they even consider buying Leopard 2 tank to replace t he T-90.

[@Бром4ег]

T 90 had a difficult fate. It was considered easier to buy three Leopards than to produce one T 90.

[@Br1cht]

We in the West produce most things in China so the RF boys can surely get that easily enough.

[@johnpaulojorolan6279]

😂😂😂😂😂 using Western gear so you mean russia can't make their equipment?? Stop your lie

[@bigsarge2085]

✌️

[@EeeDee1]

Now analyze the US/Norwegian attack on Nordstream

[@B.D.E.]

Why? None of us in Europe want Nordstream back. Time to move on from fossil fuels, and never jeapordise European security by depending on russian gas again. If it were some kind of loss, then sure, everyone would be demanding an investigation. No one gives a fuck, apart from a few spineless politicians in Germany and France.

[@EeeDee1]

@@B.D.E. 🤡🤣

[@blegi1245]

@@EeeDee1 there is exactly zero evidence of norwegian or us involvement in destroying the pipelines.

[@EeeDee1]

@@blegi1245 bwahahahahahaa, and there never will be because there will never be an impartial investigation

[@blegi1245]

@@EeeDee1 impartial investigation from vatniks who have made up their mind beforehand that it was norway and the us? While admitting that there is zero evidence of norwegian or us involvement. How very russian.

[@albertoamoruso7711]

My boys carrying high that Italian raid on Alexandria-torch! ♥️😊

[@SK-ik9mc]

This is not Russian “spetznaz” this is the Russian SSO

[@SK-ik9mc]

Also yes all the video footage comes from summer and autumn

[@NextBachelor2025]

This is all nice, but the important question is, is someone supplying them now?

[@blegi1245]

Russian government uses individual russian citizens living abroad to straw purchase things that the government itself can't buy directly.

[@superdupergrover9857]

I know it's easier said than done, but why doesn't Russia just copy the western style gear? This style of spec ops equipment is by nature, limited production, so production capacity should be no problem. Furthermore, most of this stuff is not technologically sophisticated. It's just (regular) sophisticated. It should be just a factor of quality materials, quality production and attention to detail. Well, good R&D too, but that's (relatively) easy when reverse engineering.

[@haikalhadzik7744]

This video are very delusional, Russia builds nuclear submarines, hypersonic missiles and fourth gen fighters domestically and they couldn't possibly build their own mere Diver Propulsion Vehicle? i'd say this video is a huge Cope and full assumptions. The main core equipments of those Combat Swimmers are their scuba diving equipments and not their turkish made gloves, french made jacket and etc.

[@Amshraw]

Hmmm, Are you allowed to talk about nordstream sabotage??

[@4411825]

😅🤫🙈🙉🙊

[@mattteee2973]

as far as the 'transformation' of Russian kit is concerned- I always think they just want to look cool like in CoD haha

[@Br1cht]

Lol 😂 You use what you have got as they say.

[@Juanxlink]

I mean...a TON, or dozens, of equipment was orphaned in afghannistan... Pretty sure its not that rare to get gear off "foreighn" surplus stores.

[@kilianortmann9979]

I really don't think much of that was diving equipment.

[@jimurrata6785]

Afghanistan is landlocked. Do you think American Special Forces were doing much submarine warfare?

[@kentershackle1329]

Freaking hilarious if ya think the Russian need to rummage scraps for its equipments. They hv been buying western stuff for years.. dude. Legally!!!... ain't nothin wrong with that. unless ya a Russophobe

[@Juanxlink]

@@jimurrata6785 staging area for all those under the table events perhaps

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@Juanxlink Yeah like the fiction that O'Bummer admin. 'killed' Osama ..

[@HegelsOwl]

Yeah, you're a guy who would know about propaganda, since you're a "defense analyst," involved with policy making -- propaganda.

[@lineinthesand663]

Why ever not? The Ivans have captured so much of it.

[@Rehunauris]

Russian special forces have used western gear since early 2000s because it's better than their own stuff.

[@larsrossle8576]

Why are they using western equipment? Because it's better than their own, or is it just a way to build deniability if any of the diver is killed or captured? Maybe both is my guess.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Much more the former. I discuss the reason at the end of the video, it also has to do with economy

[@Бром4ег]

Perhaps I don't understand something, but I am amused by the surprise of some that Western equipment is used in Russia. As far as I know, they are not the only ones using it in Russia. It's kind of normal.

[@louisquatorze9280]

Several aspects of Russian military evolution are evident, and it doesn't speak well to their overall preparedness, as evidenced by their overall performance in Ukraine.

[@Бром4ег]

The Ukrainian army is not pygmies with ak 47s and anti-aircraft guns in pickup trucks. Although I myself am interested in how the U.S. would fight against Ukraine. Provided, of course, that there is comprehensive technical and intelligence assistance to Ukraine from the rest of the West and Russia and China. The Vietnamese and Afghans did well without such assistance.

[@superninja4794]

Mashallah very good work Russia.

[@B.D.E.]

Only under-educated third world peasants are dumb enough to support evil russia. Poor fool.

[@OneOfThoseTypes]

How do we punish them for theft when they've already been given the death penalty? It's very frustrating.

[@EeeDee1]

🤣

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

🤡

[@EeeDee1]

@@charlesangell_bulmtl 😁

[@donniebrasco2012]

BS analysis

[@ingemar_von_zweigbergk]

would be cheaper to breathe underwater

[@allanbaldoque2055]

Anyone can use any kinds of gear in the world, by the way spetsnaz is exist?

[@yamenjolak9156]

So it is propaganda video you can find it on Russian channels.. Ok I was here for the video.. So get lost.

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

[@mkdmitry]

Very bad analytics. Your are not that good dude :)

[@tommilka2287]

ryl even u..../?

[@LaGrandeBayou]

🇷🇺 *God Bless Russia* 🇷🇺

[@ploppyploppy6554]

Biden left ten billion dollars in Afghanistan hahahahahhahahahahna Go Russia .