The Ukrainian "Pager Operation": Booby-trapped glasses sent to Russian soldiers on the front

Russia announced it foiled a Ukrainian plot to send booby-trapped glasses to Russian soldiers on the front, disguised as patriotic aid. According to the FSB, Ukrainian agents posed as supporters of the Russian army and contacted aid organizations. It is unknown if any soldiers were harmed.

Russia announced it foiled a Ukrainian plot to send booby-trapped glasses to Russian soldiers on the front, disguised as patriotic aid. According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), Ukrainian agents posed as supporters of the Russian army and contacted local aid organizations via Telegram, offering to donate FPV glasses to drone operators. A soldier in the Volgograd region became suspicious of the glasses he received and handed them over for inspection, where it was discovered that the cooling fans had been replaced with improvised explosive devices. As a result, similar shipments were seized in several other regions. A volunteer at a Russian aid organization confirmed that the glasses reached soldiers, but it is unknown if any were harmed. Russia opened a criminal case for preparation of a terrorist act. No official response was received from Ukraine. The article compares the operation to the Israeli pager operation against Hezbollah in September 2024.