Kathrine Frich
Ironically, Russia used net defenses first, back in 2023.
Ironically, Russia used net defenses first, back in 2023.
Fishing Nets vs. Russian Drones
Forget high-tech lasers or next-gen missiles, Ukraine’s latest line of defense against Russian drones is surprisingly low-tech: fishing nets.
Strung above roads and checkpoints, these humble tools are becoming a battlefield essential.
Netting the Enemy in Mid-Air
Ukrainian troops have started hanging fishing nets across key routes on the front lines.
Their goal is to snag and stop enemy drones mid-flight.
Tangled rotors and jammed guidance systems are often the result, giving troops vital seconds to respond or escape.
Why Nets Work When Jammers Don’t
Russia now deploys fiber-optic-controlled drones that can’t be jammed by traditional electronic warfare.
These wired kamikaze drones slip through most defenses, but they can still get caught in a net. The simplicity is what makes the tactic brilliant.
From Harbors to Trenches: Where the Nets Come From
Many of the nets used by Ukraine are donated by Nordic fishermen. Some are sewn locally; others arrive by truck from ports in Denmark and Sweden.
The Swedish nonprofit OperationChange alone has delivered 250 metric tons of netting so far.
Welcome to the “Net Corridors”
On the ground, Ukraine is transforming its roadways into mesh-covered safe zones.
Known as “net corridors,” these paths offer protection for supply runs and troop movement.
Military vehicles now cruise under veils of suspended netting, like makeshift tunnels.
Vehicles Get the Mad Max Treatment
It’s not just roads. Ukrainian tanks and trucks are now wrapped in wire mesh and cage-like armor, forcing drones to explode at a safer distance.
The look is scrappy but effective and eerily reminiscent of something out of Mad Max.
From WWII to TikTok: A War of Old vs. New
While drones buzz overhead, WWII-era machine guns are still being used to shoot them down.
The war has become a strange mix of analog grit and digital threat, where scissors and fishing nets are pitted against some of the world’s most advanced tech.
A Tactic Borrowed from Russia, Perfected by Ukraine
Ironically, Russia used net defenses first, back in 2023.
But Ukraine has scaled up the strategy with wider coverage, better materials, and international support, turning the tables on the tactic’s originators.
Fiber-Optic Drones Raise Civilian Alert
In cities like Kherson, authorities now warn residents to look out for fiber-optic cables trailing from drones and even carry scissors to cut them.
A shocking sign of how modern warfare is reaching into daily life, and how low-tech defenses remain vital.
Fighting for the Frontline, One Road at a Time
In places like Donetsk and Sumy, Ukrainian forces are installing nets by hand. Soldiers dig holes, raise posts, and stretch nets across miles of vital roadways.
The work is slow, but the protection it offers may save countless lives.
