Russia Alleges Log-Disguised Explosive Devices Found in Zaporozhye

Dragon Media News Desk

Russia has alleged that explosive devices disguised as ordinary logs have been discovered in the Zaporozhye Region and that Ukrainian forces have used drones to deploy such devices in areas frequented by civilians.

Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the devices were found in rear areas of the region. According to him, Ukrainian drones have also been recorded dropping similar explosives in locations regularly used by civilians.

Miroshnik said the devices are difficult to distinguish from harmless objects when placed along roads, footpaths and forest belts.

He further claimed that the explosives are equipped with fuses that react to changes in the magnetic field and can detonate when a vehicle, motorcycle or a person carrying metal objects approaches.

The Russian side described the alleged use of such devices as particularly dangerous for civilians because their appearance makes them difficult to identify as explosives.

Russia has argued that the practice could violate international humanitarian law governing mines, booby traps and other explosive devices. Under the amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the use of booby traps specifically designed to resemble apparently harmless portable objects is prohibited.

Both Russia and Ukraine are parties to that amended protocol.

The origin, deployment and responsibility for the alleged log-disguised explosive devices have not been independently verified. The information should therefore be treated at this stage as an allegation made by a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official.

International humanitarian law requires parties to an armed conflict to distinguish between civilians and military targets and to take precautions against weapons or methods of warfare that could cause indiscriminate harm. If the deliberate deployment of disguised explosive devices in civilian areas were independently established, it would raise serious concerns under those rules.