Bombs were disguised as wet wipes and battery packs as Putin's troops deployed the explosive devices in Ukrainian cities

22:46, Wed, Jul 15, 2026 Updated: 22:50, Wed, Jul 15, 2026

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-CONFLICT

Putin's latest move has targeted Ukrainian civilians (file) (Image: Getty)

Vladimir Putin's troops have been dropping bombs disguised as battery packs and wet wipes into the streets of Ukraine. Putin's latest attack on Ukrainian civilians involves dropping the disguised items into the streets of Kherson. The move has been denounced by human rights campaigners who have accused Putin of targeting children and adults not involved in the conflict.

Those who pick up the items could lose limbs or even be killed as a result of the explosion. The Hope for Ukraine charity CEO, Yuriy Boyechko says the explosives are likely flown over with a drone and dropped into the streets where unsuspecting civilians will pick them up.

Boyechko told Metro: "If a curious kid or anyone picks it up, or steps on it, then it explodes immediately. It is a direct crime against civilians." Kherson locals had managed to avoid the uncamoflagued explosives but now Russia has adopted a "new strategy" according to Boyechko.

This involves disguising the bombs as anything from battery packs to tissue holders. Yaroslav Shanko, Head of Kherson City Military Administration has since suggested parents talk to their children and tell them it is not safe to pick up items from the street, "even if they look safe or useful."

Lord Alton, chair of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has since denounced the Russian's recent drop.

Aftermath Of Russian Guided Bomb Attack On Sumy

Ukrainian children are being told to leave strange objects alone (file) (Image: Getty)

He said: "Inevitably, curious children will be among those picking up innocent-looking tissue boxes. That will lead to fatalities and terrible injuries. One day, this must be added to the charge sheet of war crimes."

It comes as Putin is tipped to launch a massive mobilisation operation on the streets of Ukraine in a matter of months. Czech President Petr Pavel has chillingly warned he believes that mobilisation could occur after Russia's parliamentary vote on September 20.

He told The Telegraph: “Russia will have parliamentary elections in September. President Putin will hardly declare mobilisation before, but once the elections are over, then the window will shrink."