Russia discovers hundreds of boobytrapped boot insoles

Will Stewart and Olivia Allhusen
The Daily Mail
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:39 UTC

© TSoS FSB/e2w

The 'heated' insoles for use in cold weather were rigged with enough explosives to blow off a victim's limbs, it is alleged

Rigged with enought explosives to blow soldiers' legs off

Russian authorities have seized hundreds of explosive-laden boot insoles intended for Vladimir Putin's soldiers, according to the FSB.

These "heated" insoles, designed for use in cold weather, were allegedly rigged with enough explosives to blow off a wearer's limbs. The Russian counterintelligence agency has pointed fingers at Ukrainian secret services for this scheme aimed at maiming up to 504 soldiers.

"A foreign national born in 1994 has been detained in Russia," announced the FSB. "He was involved in the smuggling of weapons to Russia from Poland through Belarus, organised by Ukrainian intelligence agencies."

The FSB identified the detained individual, a man from Tajikistan, as being connected with the shipment of boobytrapped boot insoles, March 24, 2026.

The concealed explosives in the pairs of insoles had a power equivalent to 1.5 grams of TNT, the FSB revealed. "Detonation occurs when the insoles are connected to a power source and is designed to sever a part of a serviceman's limb when they are used during combat missions."

The booby-trapped insoles were reportedly part of a shipment labeled as "humanitarian aid". "The shoe insoles were supposed to be sent to Russian troops stationed in the special military operation zone disguised as humanitarian aid," TASS reported.

The explosive insoles, disguised as humanitarian aid, were sent from Poland, smuggled by Ukrainian intelligence, March 24. 2026

The FSB identified the detained individual, a man from Tajikistan, as the courier for the explosive insoles. Additionally, it was alleged that Ukraine attempted a bold move to acquire drones in Moscow, which could have been loaded with explosives and used against targets in the Russian capital. "In the event of equipping them with explosive devices, Ukrainian special services would have obtained powerful means of terror, which they planned to use against designated targets in Moscow," the statement declared.

Comment: Wonder who they got the idea from?

The Daily Mail adds:

Russian counterintelligence blames Ukrainian secret services for a ploy to maim up to 504 soldiers.

'He was involved in the smuggling of weapons to Russia from Poland through Belarus, organised by Ukrainian intelligence agencies.'

The power of the concealed explosives in the insole pairs was 1.5 grams in TNT equivalent,' said the FSB.

'Detonation occurs when the insoles are connected to a power source and is designed to sever a part of a serviceman's limb when they are used during combat missions.'

'The shoe insoles were supposed to be sent to Russian troops stationed in the special military operation zone disguised as humanitarian aid,' reported TASS.

The detained man - from Tajikistan - was a courier for the explosive insoles, said the FSB.

The insoles were in a consignment of 'humanitarian aid', it was alleged.