Ukraine's explosive radios: Innovative tactics against Russia
The war in Ukraine has seen the emergence of numerous innovative tactics aimed at neutralising the adversary, one of which draws significant inspiration from a well-publicised action by Israel against Hezbollah. Here, we delve into the details of this shrewd Ukrainian operation.
The Ukrainians have demonstrated substantial creativity in countering Russian forces, and their latest tactic takes inspiration from Mossad's infamous use of explosive-laden pagers against Hezbollah.
In the images below, observe how the Ukrainians have incorporated a considerable amount of plastic explosive, complete with an EDP-r electric detonator linked to a switch, likely attached to damaged Motorola radios. The explosive's force is reportedly sufficient to inflict serious injuries to the hands and face of anyone attempting to use the radio.
Exploding radios — deadly for inquisitive Russians
Both Ukrainian and Russian forces grapple with the issue of insufficient encrypted communication. However, the Ukrainians are continuously furnished with new solutions from Western allies, while the Russians are often left to rely on antiquated TA-57 cable phones from Soviet times or commercial radios imported from China.
Such devices are prone to eavesdropping, as both sides of the conflict have repeatedly discovered. Captured communication equipment is, therefore, highly valued by either side. The Ukrainians appear to have anticipated this by deploying explosive Motorola radios into Russian territories via drones.
In light of equipment shortages, it is conceivable that a Russian soldier might encounter such a device and either attempt to use it or pass it on to an officer of higher rank. Targeting officers, particularly those engaged in communications, offers more excellent strategic value given their relative scarcity and the difficulty in training them.
If these Ukrainian operations lead to casualties among Russian specialist personnel, the investment of resources is justified. Consider how the extensive Israeli operation involving numerous pagers impacted Hezbollah when IDF forces entered Lebanon, as detailed in the large-scale Israeli attack.
