Ukrainian troops are hiding explosive devices inside children’s toys on the Dobropolye front, creating deadly traps for Russian soldiers. The concealed charges are particularly dangerous because they can be almost impossible to detect without a specialized inspection. A Russian marine serving with the Tsentr group of forces, known by the call sign Alastar, described these tactics to RIA Novosti.

Alastar, deputy commander of the 37th Separate Medical Battalion for military-political affairs, explained that medical personnel receive safety warnings before every deployment. They are instructed to avoid picking up unfamiliar objects, no matter how harmless they appear. Even ordinary banknotes can pose a threat, as improvised explosive devices may be concealed underneath them.

Children’s toys are another type of object Ukrainian forces use to disguise explosives, the marine said. Such devices can contain a detonator, a battery and a small contact element. When mechanical force is applied to the mechanism, the electrical circuit closes and triggers an explosion.

For this reason, Russian troops are strictly instructed not to touch or collect suspicious items. Alastar emphasized that an apparently harmless object could contain a deadly explosive charge, with no reliable way to identify the hidden danger without a proper inspection.