Ukrainian soldiers have been ditching combat boots for what they call 'tactical Crocs' when they're off the front lines

Changing footwear is key for Ukrainian soldiers.Dmytro "Liber" ZhluktenkoUkrainian troops are wearing what they call "tactical Crocs" when they're away from the front line.Soldiers say wearing combat boots all day isn't sustainable.

They say the shoes are a hit with younger troops.Ukraine's soldiers are wearing what they call "tactical Crocs" when they're off the front lines.Dmytro Zhluktenko, a Ukrainian soldier who recently transitioned from his role as a drone operator to a drone lessons analyst with Ukraine's 413th Unmanned Systems Regiment "RAID," described the gear he wore and carried in a YouTube video.

His pack included slip-on shoes he described as "tactical Crocs."He told Business Insider that they are "absolutely essential." At war, "really, it's impossible to stay in combat boots all the time.

So you have to somehow decompress."Being able to change footwear is important for soldiers moving on and off the front lines, particularly after long periods in trenches and bunkers. Staying in boots for extended periods in harsh conditions can lead to injury and disease, as past wars have shown.

Getting troops out of combat boots, built for protection, helps prevent infections and fungal diseases, blistering, musculoskeletal issues, and nerve damage. Doing so also provides psychological relief.Another Ukrainian soldier, who spoke to Business Insider on the condition of anonymity for security reasons, said that he uses similar shoes.

Ukrainian soldiers often wear boots, and need to change into something more comfortable when it's safe enough.Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesHe said they're convenient and popular among younger soldiers. "It is quite fashionable," he said.

Zhluktenko said he wears his in positions away from the front lines, in positions where there are no Russian drones and "almost no danger."So, "when it's safe, I'm wearing my Crocs."The ones that he wears are from the Ukrainian company M-TAC, which makes gear for Ukrainian forces figh