Toy of War: How Russia Advertises Replicas of Deadly Shahed Drones to Children Under the Pretense of “Patriotic Kits”

The world is shaking from the explosions of real “Shaheeds” in the sky over Ukraine, and a novelty has appeared on Russian platforms — a foam toy copy of the “Geranium-2”, under which the Iranian Shahed-136 strike drone is hidden in military formations. It has already become a “trend” among children: on the Ozon website, the Russian analogue of Amazon, this product is offered for children from six years old, promising to “develop coordination, accuracy and imagination” — and, most importantly, to form the image of a “young patriot and future conqueror of the skies”. Who and why disguises war as an exciting game? How toy weapons form a new generation’s consciousness — in detail in our report for the Ukrainian audience.

Toy-death in the children's room

Against the backdrop of the ruins of civilian cities and deaths from real drones, the Russian online store Ozon is launching a plastic mini-replica of the Shahed, which you can launch, attach a firecracker to — and enjoy “realistic explosions.” For $4, the profile of the “young conqueror of the sky” includes not just a plane, but a symbol of the absolute legitimization of war.¹.

“The perfect gift for future heroes,” the ad boasts. Reviews under the product are full of comments like “son is delighted, ordered extra fireworks”, “Cool thing, everything is like on TV!” What is behind this disguise of death as a game and is there a place for childhood here?

Killer drone in the age of TikTok: why is it dangerous?

The Shahed-136 is a cheap weapon of mass destruction that Russia has been systematically using to attack energy, transport, and housing in Ukraine since 2022. According to the Institute for Science and International Security, in just seven months, the Russian Federation has produced over 15 of these drones.¹ While the world is discussing the ban on combat robotics, an ordinary Russian family buys a plastic copy of “Gerani” so that the child can learn to “hit the target accurately” in the game.

Real Shahed bring death, destruction and fear. With a destroyed substation or school. With the wounded, orphans, the lost peace of cities. What arises in the imagination of a child when he receives a toy as a gift with a real war on the label?

Social media, advertising and the new “heroism”

– Ironically, when selling “Geranium” for children, Ozon lists in the characteristics: “Imitation of target designation”, “Announcement of timely strikes”, “Development of imagination”. Videos have already appeared on TikTok and Telegram where children compete to see whose “Geranium” will fly further or explode louder.
– In fact, these products create a demand for imaginary heroism: what is created in children's imagination instead of empathy and fear of violence?

Psychology and fears of teachers

Psychologists and educators are sounding the alarm: the promotion of replicas of military weapons as a game normalizes violence, forms a distorted understanding of war, and blurs the line between real tragedy and children's entertainment. The impact of such "gifts" is, in fact, an early adaptation of consciousness to aggression and uncritical fusion with the official ideology.¹

“Playing with a copy of the Shahed drone, a child not only imagines himself as a pilot of an airplane, but also personifies the aggressor. Such gamification of danger is dangerous — it makes war commonplace, and destruction or losses — the price of the game,” notes child psychologist Natalia Dyachenko.

World reaction: toy militarization on the march

Russia is not the only country where military toys are sold to children. On global online platforms, you can find models of American, Turkish, and Israeli kamikaze drones. However, over the past year, it is the Russian case that has caused a special resonance: when a country terrorizes its neighbors with real strikes, and then romanticizes war for children.

What is the future and is there a choice?

The main question is what do we lose by choosing “realism” over empathy? Will the next generation become more sensitive if they play the “war game”? While some rejoice in the “motivation for courage,” other researchers see a direct threat here — the formation of limited, uncritical thinking and approval of violence.

The world already offers an alternative: STEM models, science kits, games of altruism and cooperation. But where some are taught to love technology and peace, others are prepared for war from infancy.

Conclusion: Toys that educate about war

A replica of a killer drone in children's hands is not just entertainment, but a disturbing symptom of an era in which war has become an integral part of upbringing and "development." For Ukrainian parents, educators, and society, this case is a test of moral strength: will we allow new generations to dream of insane speed and explosive power instead of loving and protecting life?

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