text: Russia hides military movementsIn a unique development, someone is blocking open-source researchers who track the movements of Russian military equipment and rail cars from their traditional communications platforms. Some researchers can use backup accounts, but it appears an effort is underway to mask the current movements. In April, Russia proudly touted its maneuvers on social and traditional media outlets to dare the West to take up the issue. Currently, that is not the case. Civilians are documenting the low-visibility or nighttime movements but without the cavalcade of civilians in the spring. The expansion of sophisticated information operations is a key indicator the Russians are preparing for a kinetic conflict. Instead of foreign media manipulation, their efforts to conceal troop movements are more similar to December 2013 and the subsequent invasion of Ukraine. Nobody denies the movements are occurring necessarily, but their intentions are purposely obfuscated. The U.S. calls for greater transparency are falling flat, and the situation continues to mire just below the threshold of conflict, likely until a time and place of Vladimir Putin’s choosing. – D.M.LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT INTSUMFar Left Activity Rollup & Outlook