Ukraine has devised a clever strategy to outsmart Russian forces by creating imitation military equipment that serves as decoys. The goal is to lure Russian forces into wasting their ammunition, missiles, and drones on these fake targets while safeguarding genuine military equipment and the soldiers operating it. This innovative approach has been unveiled in a report by The Guardian.
In a nondescript workshop, a dedicated team of Ukrainian weapons experts is hard at work crafting convincing replicas of artillery guns, radar trucks, and missiles, all with a crucial twist – they will never see real combat. These decoys are painstakingly constructed using materials like plastic, wood offcuts, foam, and metal. The success of this unconventional endeavor is gauged by how swiftly these replicas are obliterated in the field, as they must be indistinguishable from authentic military hardware to draw enemy fire.
One anonymous specialist from the operation at Metinvest, the company behind this inventive tactic, stated, “When the military comes to us and says, ‘we are out of these,’ it means we were totally successful in our job.” Their achievements are celebrated in a modest workshop cabinet filled with remnants of their victories, including engines and the shattered remnants of Iranian drones known as Shahed, as well as a damaged wing from a Russian drone named Lancet – all attracted by the deceptive allure of the mock-ups.
The concept of deploying these bait weapons was conceived by three top managers of the company during the early days of the conflict when it became evident that the Ukrainian military was ill-equipped to face the Russian threat. The project received the personal approval of Rinat Akhmetov, a shareholder in the business.
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Explaining the rationale behind this strategy, one of the top managers said, “We thought if the Russians saw a lot of weapons, they might be scared to move forward, or to shell an area. It’s a psychological weapon.” This psychological warfare tactic leverages the power of perception and deception to deter and confound the enemy.
The faux military equipment is designed to be easily transported and assembled at the frontlines. For instance, an imitation “artillery gun” can be put together in just 20 minutes. Metinvest officially announced its production of these military decoys at the end of August.
As part of the “Steel Front” military initiative led by Rinat Akhmetov, more than 250 of these imitation pieces have already been dispatched to the frontlines. Production continues to meet the ongoing demand for this unconventional but highly effective strategy. Akhmetov, a prominent businessman, has allocated over 6 billion hryvnias in support of the Ukrainian military and civilian efforts since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In the face of adversity, Ukraine has demonstrated its resourcefulness and determination to protect its territory and citizens through ingenious methods like these mock-ups of military equipment. This innovative approach not only preserves vital resources but also showcases the power of strategic thinking in the theater of modern warfare.
