“Little green men” play an important role in hybrid conflicts. The term emerged during the Crimean crisis, when the international community was faced with the activities of unmarked armed forces whose nature did not necessarily correspond with the image of “Crimean self-defense forces.” “Little green men” might just as well be soldiers dressed as civilians. In the Crimean conflict Russian soldiers enjoyed protection as combatants (and as possible prisoners of war), and Russian troops in eastern Ukraine are regarded as regular armed forces of the Russian Federation, so they always enjoy the status of combatants and POWs. Representatives of special forces dressed in civilian clothes and not carrying weapons openly could be considered spies. Otherwise they should be protected under prisoner of war status. Little green men fighting in non-international armed conflicts might not be regarded as combatants or prisoners of war, but as criminals.