maskirovka

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian маскиро́вка (maskiróvka, “camouflage”).

Noun

maskirovka (uncountable)

1. (military, especially regarding Soviet warfare) A set of procedures designed to confuse, mislead, and camouflage oneself from the enemy.
   • 2018, Carl Miller, chapter 6, in The Death of the Gods […] , William Heinemann, →ISBN:

     And the key to informational struggle was maskirovka—subterfuge—the manipulation of the enemy's picture of reality.

   • 2023 March 25, Dan Sabbagh, “Ukrainian top brass stirs the pot with talk of Bakhmut counterattack”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     As for Syrski’s remarks, a more likely interpretation is that the general is engaged in some simple misdirection – a version of maskirovka – a Russian military concept that encompasses western notions of operational secrecy with simple deception.