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Lines of defense The Ukrainian military has a powerful new tool against Russian drone attacks: fishing nets

Source: Meduza

In eastern and southern Ukraine, fishing nets are now being stretched over cities, roads, checkpoints, and artillery positions. Some are handmade by Ukrainians, while others have been sent by European fishermen. But instead of catching fish, these nets are used to trap Russian FPV drones. The Ukrainian military calls these net-covered areas “anti-drone corridors” and says they’re both inexpensive and effective. “The number of successful enemy attacks along routes protected by nets drops significantly,” said a spokesperson for the Command of Ukraine’s Support Forces. The army plans to extend these corridors along key routes across the entire front line. Here’s what they look like.


Roman Pilipey / AFP / Scanpix / LETA

A car drives past Ukrainian servicemen installing anti-drone nets over a road in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. July 8, 2025.

Roman Pilipey / AFP / Scanpix / LETA

Roman Pilipey / AFP / Scanpix / LETA

Roman Pilipey / AFP / Scanpix / LETA

Anti-drone nets stretch over a street in the frontline town of Orikhiv in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. July 23, 2025.

Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform / Vida Press

Reuters / Scanpix / LETA

Reuters / Scanpix / LETA

Andriy Andriyenko / Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade / AP / Scanpix / LETA

Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform / Vida Press

Andriy Andriyenko / Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade / AP / Scanpix / LETA

Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform / Vida Press