[A PLEA FOR DISCRETION] Regarding Europe / NATO Military Movements

[DarkNoon]

Out of respect for operational security and the safety of allied personnel and civilians, I’m asking everyone to refrain from posting real time, hyper specific locations or movements of NATO/EU forces during any period for the foreseeable future while Russia is probing or testing alliance/NATO responses (snap drills, border provocations, intercepts, etc.).

This is a voluntary request, not a moderation/staff rule. If information is public, DWS policy allows posting for analysis.

I’m asking, personally, that we choose discretion when it comes to live positions and movements so we aren’t amplifying targeting data for hostile actors. (Same principle we used in the Indo-Pak threads.)

DO NOT SHARE EXEPT WITH STAFF OR ME. At least within the first 48 hours:

• Exact convoy locations, identifiable landmarks, road/rail checkpoints, unit patches, or bridge crossings.
• Tail numbers, hex codes, gates/ETDs/ATDs, ramp spots, or live refuel tracks of military aircraft.
• Port entries/exits for naval units while they are underway or in a sensitive posture.
• Base ingress/egress timings, railcar counts, or logistics choke points that reveal patterns.

If you must share, share later, do a delay + blur where possible in ANY photos:

• Delay uploads by hours (preferably 12–24h).
• Scrub faces, license plates, tail numbers, and precise map pins.
• Aggregate (“brigade-sized movement in eastern Poland”) instead of street-level detail.

What to do instead:

• When you see something potentially relevant, PM it to staff privately (or to me). It will be used for escalation analysis and not posted as live targeting data.

Treat social video of “troop movements” as unreliable until confirmed, miscaptioning and reuse of old footage are rampant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Why this matters
Russia and any competent adversary harvests open posts for patterns. We don’t need to give them free ISR by broadcasting exact positions in the moment.

In surges, forums can lag or go down, having vetted private contacts and restrained posting habits keeps our signal to noise high and our community safe minded.

If you come across sensitive, time-critical details:

• Do not post in a thread.
• Private message staff (or me) instead. Your tip will be routed for analysis without compromising OPSEC.

Thank you for choosing discretion when it counts.

 

[DarkNoon]

My reports will now not include mentioned items above. IMPORE others to do the same.

 

[HoldFast]

Was there a trigger somewhere from today that I missed?

 

[peterould]

Was there a trigger somewhere from today that I missed?

This may be connected to the reports out of Germany that Russia is considering attacking NATO. There is also an emerging energy crisis in Russia.

 

[Charmender]

These reports are nothing new.
I think that Darknoon is just publishing this info, just in case, besides the fact that he specified "while Russia is probing or testing alliance/NATO responses (snap drills, border provocations, intercepts, etc.)."
It's an effort that once it's done, it's info that can still be valid for years.

I don't see any imminent crisis on the horizon.

 

[DarkNoon]

Darknoon is just publishing this info, just in case, besides the fact that he specified "while Russia is probing or testing alliance/NATO responses (snap drills, border provocations, intercepts, etc.)."
It's an effort that once it's done, it's info that can still be valid for years.

I don't see any imminent crisis on the horizon.

Charmender, as always, is correct.

In all seriousness... until background temperature in Europe cools. Please refrain from posting hyper specific locations of EU/NATO troops or assest. @Everyone.

If you must, message staff or me with the information.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

This may be connected to the reports out of Germany that Russia is considering attacking NATO. There is also an emerging energy crisis in Russia.

These reports are rubbish. Russia isn't going to attack NATO directly.