Vladimir Putin has been left red-faced after one of his top propagandists accidentally revealed the location of a secret drone unit on live television. The blunder occurred when Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent state TV host, failed to blur a toilet sign during a report on the Rubicon drone centre, allowing experts to geolocate the facility.
The sign, which had a distinctive design, was visible in footage broadcast by Solovyov. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) researchers quickly identified the location as Hall D and part of Hall C at the Patriot Exhibition Centre near Moscow. The Rubicon unit is involved in drone development, testing, and deployment on the front lines in Ukraine.
The revelation is a major embarrassment for Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, who oversaw the creation of Rubicon. The centre has been credited with successes in the Kursk and Donetsk regions, and its exposure could make it a target for Ukrainian attacks. Footage from March showed Ukraine had already attempted an attack near the site.
Solovyov's mistake adds to a series of recent gaffes. Earlier this week, he threatened British RAF pilots with death if sent to protect Poland and falsely claimed France might deploy nuclear missiles to Poland. The incident highlights ongoing security lapses in Russian state media as the war in Ukraine continues.
