According to Forbes, Ukraine has been smuggling explosive-laden insoles disguised as humanitarian supplies to frontline Russian troops.
Ukrainian intelligence personnel mixed explosive-filled heating insoles into aid shipments transported by Russian volunteers and charitable foundations.
Each pair of insoles contains 1.5 grams of TNT explosive, capable of causing severe injuries when in close contact with the foot.
The report states that the first batch of such supplies began being delivered in early March, with the total quantity potentially reaching tens of thousands of pairs.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) intercepted approximately 500 "explosive insoles" from a shipment that traveled through Belarus from Poland. According to Ukrainian sources, this represents only a small fraction of the total cargo sent.
If accurate, the scale of "tens of thousands of pairs" implies a systematic, long-term special operations campaign rather than an isolated incident.
Although 1.5 grams of explosives is insufficient to cause fatal injuries, it is enough to inflict serious foot trauma—such as blast injuries or risk of amputation—thereby undermining enemy soldiers’ basic combat capabilities and morale. This "asymmetric" tactic aims to weaken Russian forces through persistent, small-scale harassment.
This further confirms the integration of "hybrid warfare" and "special operations" in modern conflicts. Warfare is no longer limited to front-line combat but extends to rear areas, supply lines, and even inside occupied territories through asymmetric attacks.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860993968638144/
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