In a display of cunning and creativity, steelworkers in Ukraine have been using realistic-looking decoy weapons to outsmart Russian troops in the ongoing conflict between the two countries. These decoy weapons, made from scrap wood, metal, and used tires, mimic advanced defense systems such as howitzers, radar systems, and mortar launchers. The steelworkers, based at Metinvest, Ukraine's largest steel plant, have produced over 250 decoy weapons for Ukrainian troops. By tricking Russian forces into expending their valuable ammunition on fake weapons, they have successfully preserved their genuine weapons and protected the lives of their soldiers.

The Financial Times reported that the steelworkers began this operation last February when Russian troops approached their plant in central-eastern Ukraine. With no actual weapons to defend themselves, the steelworkers quickly improvised and assembled decoy weapons using materials they had on hand, including boxes, plastic, and even discarded items found in the trash. The enterprise chief of a Metinvest facility explained that their goal was to make it appear as though the Ukrainian army was bigger and stronger, ready to fight. Their tactic was successful, as they managed to scare off the advancing troops.

As the conflict continued, Ukraine expanded its use of decoys, including radar reflectors made from old Russian oil barrels. These decoys, costing only about 1,000 Euros to produce, proved to be a fraction of the price of the $1.1 million missiles used by Russian troops to destroy them. The steelworkers measure their success by the destruction of the decoys, as it signifies the preservation of their genuine weapons and the lives of their soldiers, while depleting the enemy's valuable arsenal. The enterprise chief emphasized the importance of constantly adapting the design of the decoys to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

The use of decoy weapons is not a new strategy in military warfare. In the past, militaries have employed tactics such as inflatable tanks during World War II or parachuting dummies to simulate an airborne invasion leading up to D-Day. Ukrainian troops have increasingly relied on cunning strategies and opportunistic attacks to fend off Russian forces, including the creation of wooden replicas of tanks crafted from empty 155mm shell boxes.

By utilizing these decoy weapons, steelworkers in Ukraine have demonstrated resourcefulness and ingenuity, effectively turning scrap materials into powerful tools to deceive and outsmart their adversaries. In doing so, they have achieved significant victories by preserving their resources and undermining the ammunition stores of their opponents.