A toy replica of the killer drone used by Russia is marketed to children

A toy replica of the Iranian Shahed drone, which Russia has widely deployed for attack. Ukraineis marketed to children on a Russian e-commerce website.

A listing on the Ozon website, which is often called Russian Amazon, sells the small foam plastic drone as a replica of the Geranium-2, the Russian designation for the Iranian-made Shahed drone. The description lists the item as “suitable for children ages 6 and up” and claims that it develops “coordination, precision and imagination.” He also describes it as “an ideal gift for young patriots and future conquerors of the skies.”

The toy, which sells for 350 Russian rubles (about $4.38), can also be equipped with firecrackers on the tip that explode on impact, emulating the way real-life Shahed drones fly toward their targets and explode on impact.

All reviews of the product displayed on the website appear to be positive, with one commenter writing: “Cool toy, my son is delighted, I also ordered more fireworks.”

Another commenter wrote: “Great toy! Just like the real thing!”

Long-range Shahed drones, made in Iran, have been widely used in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where they have attacked civil, energy and transportation infrastructure. Their relatively low cost and low-altitude operation have made them a weapon of choice in the country’s attacks against Ukraine since August 2022.

A report released in March by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Science and International Security said that over the course of seven months, from August last year to March this year, Russia launched some 15,000 Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukraine.

Russia is not the only country selling replica toys that emulate combat drones, as there is a wide range of other models available on e-commerce sites around the world.