What Are Cope Cages? Memes About Slat Armor Amidst The Russia-Ukraine Conflict Explained

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a highly publicized and discussed event in certain parts of the internet, with war and armor enthusiasts dissecting every kernel of information leaked online. A big topic of debate about the Russia-Ukraine war was the supposed asymmetry of weaponry and expertise between both countries, with Ukraine's arsenal being stocked with some of the best weapons the US had to offer.

In late November 2021, discussions about the war turned toward how Russia was protecting its tanks and vehicles against a specific kind of missile used by Ukraine. "Slat armor," also known as "RPG cages," were being slapped onto T-90 tanks and other vehicles in order to deter attacks from Javelin missiles, but the effectiveness of this armor has been up for interpretation online. In a study of how meme communities react to tactical shifts in war, here's "slat armor" gave way to the term Cope Cages online.

Where Does The Term 'Cope Cages' Come From?

In late November 2023, war experts and risk analysts began noting Russia's use of armor specifically designed to resist a type of top-down missile used by Ukrainian forces called the Javelin ATGM. This Russian armor reinforced the roofs of tanks and other vehicles and looked like a metal net covering the top gun ports.

A December 2021 article by journalist Thomas Newdick discussed what he called "Russian Cage-Style Improvised Tank Armor," adding that the armor was "unlikely to offer substantial protection against advanced anti-tank guided missiles." After pictures of such Russian armor made their way to Reddit, one user commented a damning taunt; "Cope cage?"

How Did Use Of The Term 'Cope Cage' Spread Online?

X (formerly Twitter) user @oryxspioenkop posted a screenshot of what appeared to be a Russian tank falling off a bridge in February 2022 with the caption, "Looks like the ‘cope cage’ doesn’t protect Russian tanks against driving off bridges."

The seeming ineffectiveness of Cope Cages was routinely mocked on Reddit's /r/NoCredibleDefence, as seen in a video posted by Redditor /u/altosalamander1 in March 2022 (seen below).

What Are Some Memes About 'Cope Cages'?

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, simple allusions to "Cope Cages" turned more elaborate; one image shared on 4chan's /k/ messageboard showed Crying Wojaks manning tanks fitted with Cope Cages.

To add insult to injury, a brief trend involving "Cope Cages" photoshopped onto Russian President Vladimir Putin made the rounds in March 2022, as seen in images lifted from 4chan's /pol/ board.

For the full history of Cope Cages, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.