Anti-drone nets: Ukraine aims to protect a further 4,000 kilometres of roads by the end of 2026

Ukraine is expanding its protection against hostile drones along the border regions. A further 4,000 kilometres of roads are to be secured with special anti-drone nets by the end of 2026.

Near the front line, Russia deliberately uses drones as an instrument of terror against civilian vehicles, emergency services and repair teams. On the President's instructions, we are therefore strengthening protective measures in the front-line areas and accelerating the installation of anti-drone nets. Priority goes to transport routes that are crucial for logistics and supply communities along the line of contact— Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov

A further 1.6 billion hryvnias (around 38 million euros) of budget funds go into the programme. Despite poor weather, 125 more kilometres of protected roads were added in February alone; 55 kilometres of damaged structures were repaired.

Anti-drone nets at a daily pace

Within a month, the pace rose sharply: from five kilometres a day in January to twelve in February. According to the Ministry of Defence, military movements have become significantly safer, and communities near the front are functioning more stably.

Fedorov announced the next step: “From March, we plan to equip 20 kilometres of roads a day with drone protection. By the end of the year, a further 4,000 kilometres in total are to be secured.”

Work on fortifications is also being stepped up in the Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv regions, to further strengthen defensive capability against possible Russian offensive operations.