Net tunnels to protect logistics routes from drones

BLUF: Russian soldiers started putting up nets along the roads to protect against drones. They even created separate units for building ‘net tunnels.’ Ukrainians followed their example, and now kilometers of logistics arteries are covered with nets. 

Also, Farsight Vision shows how special forces can prepare for operations with their visualization model. Ukrainian defense tech startup HIMERA showcased the operation of a tactical communication system in conditions similar to those in combat. 

THE BIG STORY: A new approach to countering drones: net tunnels

Ukrainian and Russian military forces have increasingly begun to install overhanging nets to protect logistical routes and equipment from drones.

Creating such structures is complex and dangerous work. It requires planting columns, cutting netting, and then installing it, which requires significant manpower, time, and equipment. 

Usually, net tunnels are built near the front line up to a 20-30 km range to protect logistics. Within this range, military personnel can be hit by drones they're trying to defend against during construction. 

How effective are net tunnels?

Russians made the first such structures in the Bakhmut area in 2023. Russians began deploying them more actively in 2024, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine only started implementing them in 2025, using fishing nets or chain-link fencing as a base for tunnels.

The main reason for creating these tunnels is to protect logistics from fiber optic drones, which cannot be suppressed by electronic warfare systems (read our coverage on fiber optic drones here). 

The net's primary focus is to trap the drone or cause it to detonate after hitting the net.

"The [drone] detonation initiation board is very sensitive. When a drone is poorly calibrated and has strong vibrations, the initiation board can activate. This means that even if you attach some kind of knife [to cut the net], during a collision with the net, [the board] will activate," explained Rudolf Akopyan, director of strategic communications at drone manufacturer General Chereshnya.

Despite obvious advantages, net tunnels are not a panacea. In March, General Chereshnya tested a drone with a shaped charge and high-explosive warhead. The shaped charge is designed for direct impact, penetrating armor to target the crew inside. But when it hits a net, its effectiveness is neutralized.

However, a drone with a high-explosive warhead may still harm equipment or personnel even after being entangled in a net. In one test, a drone exploded after a collision with a net, but fragments were found 100 meters from the impact site. 

A tunnel can also become a trap for vehicles during transit. To destroy a column, soldiers would just need to strike the first and last vehicles in the convoy, Robert ‘Madyar’ Brovdi, commander of the 414th Separate Brigade ‘Ptahy Madyara’ (Madyar Birds) told Counteroffensive.Pro.

Still, logistics vehicles usually move quickly and not in large convoys, he added. 

A drone operator can easily detect a net tunnel if the image quality is good. The key signs for an operator are its many pillars. However, if EW creates interference, spotting a thin net will be almost impossible, said Akopyan.

Can tunnel nets protect logistics?

Madyar does not believe that nets will become a significant problem. His plan to overcome nets is to attack it with several drones. The first will make a small hole, and the other two will enlarge it. Then, using a fiber optic drone, the operator can set up an ambush for the enemy inside.

"For us, creating any tunnels is not a significant obstacle to achieving our goal. Such tunnels will not be created with super-duper anti-drone materials," said Madyar.

Using net tunnels may be effective for logistics if the approach is comprehensive. Engineers must plan logistics in advance, including placing positions for military personnel and drone operators, Madyar assumed. In such cases, tunnels can become a practical part of the overall defense system — but not the universal one.

BUSINESS LUNCH TOPICS: What our reporting shows!

1. How virtual mapping for military operations works

In 2024, Ukrainian-Estonian Farsight Vision developed the FSV Platform system that allowed soldiers to create a detailed virtual copy of an area. 

Units can use that tool to run through some operations scenarios (‘wargaming') and be better prepared for operations, such as an assault on Russian territory. 

To create a virtual copy of the area, soldiers must launch a drone (or drones) with FSV Mapper and direct it to the zone of interest. A drone scans the area and sends collected information to the computer where the map will be built.

The map can be uploaded to the cloud, where military personnel can access everything with stable internet access. The map can also be stored on a computer, but a powerful computer capable of processing the information will be required.

The longer the drone flies over the surveilled area, the more detailed the map will be. Otherwise, there will be dark spots in places not processed by the sensors. Still, even with these limitations, soldiers can explore the terrain better,  CEO of Farsight Vision Victoria Yaremchuk told Counteroffensive.Pro.

Currently, one of the manufacturer's problems is the codification in MoD, because “it's not a weapon, and it doesn't shoot,” Yaremchuk said.

Current regulations do not allow software to be codified. However, a code is required when securing a government contract, as the contract specifies the procurement of a product under code ‘XX.’ Without a code, complications arise when everything is correctly processed, concluded Yaremchuk.

2. Ukrainian startup HIMERA presents a new tactical communication system

HIMERA presented the new G1 Pro radio with a touchscreen and extended range. It communicates at up to 55 km, under ideal conditions (a direct line of sight to the B1 repeater, which is located 250 meters above the ground). 

The system also works even if EW is located up to 5 km away. 

This new radio can also communicate with radio stations mounted on moving objects, such as armored infantry vehicles. All its capabilities have been tested in conditions closely resembling field conditions.

"The electronic warfare [on the test] was aimed [at the specific frequencies used by HIMERA`s system], moreover, the specialists knew what frequencies we were working on and tried to attack them. They failed. And the electronic reconnaissance also didn't see us from this distance," explained one of the HIMERA developers.

3. How Russians are using AI malware in the war against Ukraine

Viruses and cyberattacks are constantly evolving to become more efficient. The situation is similar to a real battlefield, where the enemy develops countermeasures for each new weapon, Oleksandr Lazarchuk, a cybersecurity expert, said during The Kyiv International Cyber Resilience Forum 2025.

Russia has been using AI-enhanced information operations against Ukraine since the beginning of the war in 2014. One such example was the NotPetya virus attack in 2017. This malware uses AI-powered disruption to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukrposhta mail services, and other governmental sources. It was the most significant cyberattack in Ukraine’s history. 

Russians are also using AI-driven botnets for disinformation and propaganda campaigns. Deepfakes are also becoming a part of campaigns for manipulating public opinion.

A recent analysis by NewsGuard showed that Russia was able to ‘infect’ Western AI tools with its propaganda. The top 10 chatbots, like ChatGPT-4.o from OpenAI, Copilot from Microsoft, and others, use Russian disinformation sources for analysis. 

In April 2022 Russia created the network ‘Pravda,’ which spread disinformation about the U.S. and Ukraine, and chatbots also use it as a source.

Since 2022, the Pravda network has expanded to dozens of languages across 150 domains and has 3.6 million articles.

Ukrainian orders/legislation we’re tracking 

By: Oksana Zabolotna

Improvement of mechanisms for managing and writing off military property

Draft Law: No.12373, dated December 31, 2024

Stage: Adopted in the first reading on February 12, 2025. Next, the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence will review the proposal,s and the draft law will go for a second reading in Verkhovna Rada.

Initiator: A group of 31 Members of Parliament from the ‘Holos’ and ‘Servant of the People’ fractions, led by Roman Kostenko.

Why it is important:

This will significantly reduce bureaucracy during the write-off of military property and allow for the prompt write-off of lost UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). This new law will simplify the tracking of property lost due to combat or destruction by the enemy.

Commanders and military officials can write off military property up to USD $40K without inspector certificates. Firearms and real estate are not exempted from previous accountability mechanisms.

Link to Defense Tech:

This law is essential for the effective use and accounting of high-tech military equipment and technology, including drones.

ON THE MOVE: Professional movement, promotions and industry news.

Know someone in the defense tech space who has made a professional move? Drop us a line at [email protected]! 

• Farsight Vision, a software developer, is hiring a VR/VX engineer and a CV engineer with LLM experience.

• Skyeton, a Ukrainian drone maker, is seeking a UAV Systems Engineer in deep-strike, launch, recovery systems, and other fields.

30 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH:

Stratforce Solution is developing MAFKA AI, an advanced autonomous drone system that works precisely and reliably in combat and high-risk environments. It can be used with FPV drones and drones with fixed wings.

“Our drones operate fully autonomously, without any control or reliance on GPS, making them capable of penetrating denied territories. Our approach is revolutionary – we focus on eliminating the source of the threat, not just responding to its effects. Rather than intercepting missiles and bombs, our mission is to destroy launchers, logistics, and aircraft deep in enemy territory, disrupting the enemy's ability to launch strikes and advance,” said Andrii, CTO at Stratforce Solution.

The company completed the SRI Accelerator Deep Tech Program at Stanford University and secured Brave1 and MITS Capital grants for pre-production and combat testing. It also successfully tested swarm operations on the battlefield with a queen (Mother) drone, deploying copters over 300 km.

They are seeking $1 million to scale MAFKA AI and lead the market in autonomous drone systems.

MUST READS:

• A Ukrainian delegation met with Czech defense companies COLT CZ, Česká Zbrojovka, OMNIPOL, LPP, and AMOS and agreed to expand partnerships in the production of defense industry goods, such as assault rifles, maintenance of aircraft, production of drones, etc.

• The Ukrainian 47 separate artillery brigade demonstrated a towed version of the Bohdana artillery for the first time. 

• Ukraine and the Czech Republic are creating a satellite optical reconnaissance group called ‘Suzirya’ (constellation). Satellites named TROLL and Drak will provide intelligence for Ukraine.

• Norwegian-Finnish ammunition manufacturer NAMMO has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with unnamed ‘leading enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry.’ The agreement deepens cooperation between the two countries and covers a broader range of ammunition and components.

• Skyeton, a Ukrainian drone maker, has updated its Raybird reconnaissance drone. They added a laser guidance system for precisely striking targets. Raybird can stay in the sky for up to 28 hours and cover a distance of up to 2,500 km.

• The French company ELWAVE plans to supply Ukraine with Tetrapulse sensors to detect metal and non-metallic explosive objects, including for detection in water bodies.

• The European Union plans to supply Ukraine with at least 2 million rounds of ammunition annually as part of its military aid. This volume of supplies is outlined in the White Paper on European Defense, which includes a dedicated section on Ukraine.

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