Ukrainian Forces Set Up Protective “Anti-Drone Tunnels” On Key Roads

10 March, 2025 Ukrainian anti-drone tunnel. Source: GirkinGirkin The Ukrainian military has started installing special protective structures along roads near the front line to counter enemy drones.

Footage of these efforts was shared by GirkinGirkin on X. The images show wooden poles placed along the roads, with protective mesh stretched between them. One road, likely located in the Sumy region, has protection only on the sides, while another, whose location is not disclosed, is further covered with netting.

https://t.co/NpgMEd8zEM pic.twitter.com/UeVXmr3ABf

-- IgorGirkin (@GirkinGirkin) March 10, 2025

Russian forces were the first to use such protective structures. These structures were first observed in the summer of 2023 near Bakhmut. However, at that time, they were not continuous mesh tunnels but separate nets designed to entangle drones.

In the summer of 2024, the Russian TASS news agency reported that the Russian forces in the Kupiansk sector had started covering vehicle routes with fishing nets to create safe corridors.

Another one https://t.co/Q36I8g4vOY pic.twitter.com/Ob4HqPueMV -- IgorGirkin (@GirkinGirkin) March 10, 2025

It notes that the fishing net proved more effective than chain-link mesh, as it almost guarantees FPV drones will detonate upon contact, while drones caught in a fishing net may become entangled without exploding immediately.

A mesh tunnel to protect against drones. Photo from open source

The goal is likely to limit the maneuverability of FPV drones, making it more difficult or impossible for them to target vehicles on risky roads.

On March 4, it was also reported that an anti-FPV grid gun had been tested during general military training.

This weapon fires a 3.5 by 3.5 meter net at distances of up to 30 meters.

The net entangles the blades of a drone's engines, disabling it and preventing flight.