Russian troops used ordinary trench candles to mislead the operator of a Ukrainian heavy Baba Yaga drone, according to Evgeny Mechtaev, a platoon commander with Russia’s Center Group of Forces.

Mechtaev, who serves with the 428th Regiment of the 90th Guards Tank Division, said his unit spent several days inside a shelter and relied on trench candles for heat. The heat source attracted the drone, which repeatedly dropped munitions on the area but failed to hit the servicemen inside.

He explained that the troops had six candles and used several slabs to create a simple heated space. They quickly dug a pit, placed the slabs around it and left a candle burning inside, allowing the structure to retain heat for an extended period.

According to Mechtaev, the Baba Yaga eventually exhausted its ammunition after several unsuccessful drops and stopped attacking. The Russian servicemen continued using the candles until they burned out completely.

The platoon commander said trench candles remain highly useful on the front line and thanked those involved in making and delivering them to troops.

Baba Yaga is an unofficial name for heavy Ukrainian hexacopters converted from agricultural drones. Such aircraft can reach up to two meters in diameter and carry between 15 and 50 kilograms. Ukrainian forces primarily use them at night.

One of the drone’s vulnerable components is its battery compartment, where damage can cause a fire.