Ukrainian Drones Now Powered by $30 Sneaker Insoles, Winter Won Again

KEY POINTS

•On January 23, 2026, Ukrainian special forces in Donetsk and Kharkiv wrapped drone batteries in heated insoles costing $30-$40 from Amazon.
•The low-weight insole method prevents cold-induced battery failures and maintains drone combat effectiveness during Ukraine's harshest winter in a decade.
•Russia escalated attacks with 70+ ballistic missiles and 450 attack drones targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure in multiple regions, causing blackouts.

In a mastery of low-budget warfare innovation, Ukrainian drone units in Kharkiv and Donetsk are wrapping fragile $40 disposable heated shoe insoles around 45-kilogram drones' batteries to keep them warm during January 2026's brutal single-digit freezes. These secret sock-like battery blankets weigh under 100 grams and conveniently fit right before takeoff, without melting performance or soldier morale. Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy's electronic warfare unit prefers to stash batteries in heated lunchbox containers — because why not keep drone batteries company with your sandwich? Meanwhile, Russia's record cold-weather missile raid hit over 70 ballistic missiles and 450 attack drones targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing blackouts and frantic repair efforts across Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, and more. The cold is Ukraine's official winter tormentor, and apparently, sneaker tech is today’s frontline hero.