Decoy dolls dressed as soldiers have been deployed in certain areas of Ukraine, days after Ukrainian troops appeared to have expelled Russian troops from Kharkov.
According to news week, the mannequins are well armed with fake rifles and other makeshift weapons aimed at whoever decides to attack them. They are positioned north of Kharkov to confuse attacking Russian forces. It is still unclear who dressed the mannequins and placed them in their positions.
This is because there are multiple reports of Ukrainian fighters defending Kharkiv and pushing Russian troops back to the border. The city has suffered heavy shelling by Russian troops since the war began on February 24. Several shopping centers and department stores were destroyed, leaving much behind in the rubble.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the use of mannequins as decoys during war is nothing new. news week reported that in this war Russia also used mannequins for deception against Ukraine. Russia even claimed that Ukraine used mannequins to present as corpses to fool the international community.
Last month, Rosiya24, a Russian state television network, claimed that Ukrainian soldiers were preparing a mannequin to sensationalize the “theater of war”. It said the Ukrainian military was wrapping dummies in masking tape, with a “clear purpose” of presenting them as dead bodies.
In addition, military strategist Justin Crump previously said: The Times of London that decoys “were mostly effective against helicopters and planes”. Mr Crump informed that Serbia also used mannequins in 1999 during the Kosovo war.
Returning to the situation in Eastern Europe, it should be mentioned that the ongoing war in Ukraine will enter its 13th week – a quarter of a year – on Wednesday with no clear end in sight.