In a recent incident in Mariupol, 12 Russian soldiers have died, and 30 more have been hospitalized after eating watermelons poisoned by Ukrainian resistance fighters. The watermelons were initially given to local residents by Ukrainian partisans, who then sold them to the Russian troops stationed in the city.

The poisoned fruit was bought from locals who had been misled about its true nature. This clever operation was part of a broader strategy by Ukrainian resistance groups to disrupt Russian forces in the occupied city.

Following the deaths, a Ukrainian resistance group celebrated the action online, showing their gratitude to those involved in the operation. Pyotr Andryushchenko, an advisor to the exiled mayor of Mariupol, clarified that Ukrainians were not directly involved in delivering the poisoned fruit. Instead, it was delivered by those who had purchased it at a low price with the intention of supplying it to the military base.

Mariupol, captured by Russian forces after a prolonged battle in 2022, remains a focal point for such covert operations aimed at challenging the occupying forces.