French Fishing Nets Combat Russian Drones in Ukraine: How It Works

In an unusual turn of events, old fishing nets from the French coast of Brittany are no longer just maritime waste but have become a vital protective tool used by Ukraine against Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The New Defense Mechanism

• Charitable Initiative: A charitable association in Brittany found an innovative use for the nets, which usually pile up in ports after their lifespan (12–24 months) expires.

• Deployment: The association sent nets totaling 280 kilometers to Ukraine. Ukrainians fix these nets between poles to form mesh tunnels or to cover roads, bridges, and hospitals.

• Effectiveness: When small, explosive-laden Russian drones strike the nets, their propellers become entangled, disabling the aircraft. A volunteer described the process as similar to spiders catching flies in their webs.

International Support and Significance

• Expanding Use: A logistics official from the association noted that the nets were initially used to protect medical camps, but their use has expanded to roads, bridges, and hospital entrances, demonstrating the simple tool's effectiveness.

• International Aid: Fishermen from Sweden and Denmark have also contributed hundreds of tons of old nets to the effort.

• Air Threat: This effort comes as Ukrainian reports indicated the army was engaging over 500 drones daily last July.

• Part of the Defense: A spokesperson for the Ukrainian 93rd Brigade confirmed that the nets are not a definitive solution but are an important part of the defense against Russian "Kamikaze" drones, with ongoing efforts to improve their efficacy.