'Telegraphing' once's intent, typically cedes the notion and therefore the advantage of any particular element of surprise to the target of the intent... That state of 'affairs' is not considered an optimal warfighting solution.

"“When the Russians put implants into an electric grid, it means they’re making a credible showing that they have the ability to hurt you if things escalate,” said Bobby Chesney, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “What may be contemplated here is an individualized version of that, not unlike individually targeted economic sanctions. It’s sending credible signals to key decision-makers that they are vulnerable if they take certain adversarial actions.”" - via Ellen Nakashima reporting for The Washington Post