Putin’s State Media Promotes Kamikaze Drones as Popular Christmas Gifts

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, symbols of violence are increasingly seeping into everyday Russian life. From patriotic board games to children’s military parades, efforts to glorify combat have become part of Moscow’s broader push to shape young minds.

The latest example has sparked international outrage: toy drones designed to imitate the deadly weapons that continue to strike Ukrainian cities.

These controversial toys, sold on Russian retail platform Ozon, are miniature replicas of Shahed drones—the same Iranian-designed kamikaze aircraft deployed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Marketed as gifts for “young patriots,” the styrofoam models can even be fitted with small firecrackers that explode on impact, mimicking the destruction caused by their real-world counterparts.

Promotional videos show the toys gliding through the air before striking the ground in bursts of sparks, an unsettling simulation of actual combat scenarios. The packaging closely resembles that of Stalin’s Falcons, a secretive Russian drone unit whose name appears prominently in the product’s description.

The manufacturer claims these toys provide a “fascinating historical experience” and help children develop “coordination and imagination.” Perhaps most concerning, they are advertised as suitable for children as young as three years old, raising questions about the psychological impact of normalizing weapons of war for toddlers.

Security analysts view the release of these drone toys as part of a growing campaign to normalize militarism among Russia’s youth. Similar initiatives have included mandatory patriotic lessons in schools and the revival of Soviet-era youth movements under the direct supervision of the Russian Defence Ministry.

“This represents a concerning trend toward militarizing childhood in Russia,” says Dr. Elena Volkova, a child development expert who spoke with international media. “When children are encouraged to play with replicas of actual weapons being used in an ongoing conflict, the distinction between play and propaganda becomes dangerously blurred.”

Customer reviews on Ozon offer a troubling glimpse into how these products are being received. Some praised the toy, calling it “a cool toy” and noting that their children were “delighted.” More disturbing were comments asking when larger models or replicas of Ukrainian cities would be available to “make practice attacks more realistic”—language that transforms children’s play into simulated acts of aggression against a real adversary.

The trend aligns with Russia’s broader efforts to foster patriotic sentiment amid its ongoing military operations. Since the beginning of the Ukraine invasion, Russian authorities have introduced new school curricula emphasizing loyalty to the state and military service, while criminalizing criticism of the armed forces.

Ozon, often described as Russia’s equivalent of Amazon, has responded to international criticism by distancing itself from the product’s messaging. The company stated it does not specialize in military products and that third-party sellers are responsible for ensuring their goods meet safety standards.

“Any seller can offer their goods on our platform, provided that their sale is not prohibited under Russian law,” the company told The Telegraph. The retailer added that it verifies all certificates for children’s products and monitors listings for flammable or unsafe materials.

However, when pressed on how items replicating military drones had passed their review process, especially given the explosive components included with the toy, the company declined to provide specific explanations.

Child psychologists have expressed concern that such toys could normalize violence and desensitize children to the human cost of war. The real Shahed drones these toys imitate have been responsible for civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across Ukraine.

The militarization of children’s toys represents just one facet of Russia’s broader strategy to cultivate support for its military actions and prepare younger generations for potential future conflicts. As the war continues with no end in sight, the blending of childhood play and military propaganda illustrates how deeply the conflict has penetrated Russian society—extending far beyond the battlefield into the most intimate spaces of family life.