Enemy drone incursions thwarted by Ukraine's road-spanning anti-drone barriers
Amidst the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, drone attacks have become a significant concern for civilians and military personnel alike. The hospital director in Dobropillia, Vadym Babkov, has reported that these drones are attacking both medical workers and civilians.
In response, Ukraine has launched a $6.2 million drone interceptor program to develop faster and more effective defenses against Russian drones targeting its cities, particularly Kyiv. The Ukrainian military employs a layered defensive strategy, including interceptor drones designed to chase down and destroy incoming Russian drones, especially the Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones used by Moscow.
In addition to interceptor drones, Ukraine uses electronic warfare units to jam or divert enemy drones and employs a mixture of heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft artillery, and Western-supplied air defense systems like Gepard cannons and IRIS-T or NASAMS missiles adapted for drone defense. Ukraine’s technology sector has also contributed improvised defenses such as anti-drone jamming guns and AI-linked surveillance camera software to detect and counter drones early.
Russia, on the other hand, has intensified drone and missile strikes, often using swarms of drones to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses. Due to increased Ukrainian drone capabilities, including long-range strikes, Russia has responded by tightening security measures during major events. This includes disabling mobile internet nationwide during large public gatherings to mitigate drone threats.
Russia has also canceled public events like the Army-2025 military forum amid growing security concerns related to Ukrainian drone activity, possibly shifting such events to closed formats to limit drone reconnaissance or strikes. Russian air defense units have reportedly shot down a significant number of Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow and its surrounding areas, indicating active aerial interception efforts.
In the town of Dobropillia, around 20 kilometers from the front line, drone attacks have become a daily occurrence since early July. To protect against these attacks, Ukraine is installing green nets on poles spanning kilometers of roads. When a drone hits the net, it short-circuits and cannot target vehicles. Some Ukrainian soldiers are even armed with shotguns to shoot down FPV drones, although this method carries risks as FPV drones have already seriously wounded some Ukrainian soldiers.
Residents of Dobropillia, which had a pre-war population of 28,000 people, rush for cover in shops when a drone begins buzzing overhead. Olga, a waitress in Dobropillia, opens all windows when she feels a drone is about to attack to avoid glass shards. The atmosphere in Dobropillia has become frightening, with Olga expressing uncertainty about the future and stating that they live day by day.
Authorities in Russia's Belgorod border region have retrofitted ambulances with metal anti-drone cages, a measure that was once reserved for tanks and personnel carrier vehicles. AFP journalists observed residents returning to their routine after a drone attack in Dobropillia. However, a drone attack in Dobropillia has left Olga and others jumping at every gust of wind.
Both Russia and Ukraine are using swarms of cheap drones, easily found on the market and rigged with deadly explosives, in their conflict. This escalation of drone warfare has turned these technologies into central components of defense strategies on both sides.
In the escalating war-and-conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, both countries are employing swarms of drones as significant tools in their defense strategies. To fend off Russian drone attacks, Ukraine has initiated a $6.2 million drone interceptor program and is also using electronic warfare units, heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft artillery, and Western-supplied air defense systems like Gepard cannons and IRIS-T or NASAMS missiles, as well as improvised defenses such as anti-drone jamming guns and AI-linked surveillance camera software. On the other hand, Russia employs drone and missile strikes, intensifying these attacks and tightening security measures, such as disabling mobile internet during large public gatherings, in response to Ukraine's enhanced drone capabilities.
