Ukraine to cover 4,000 km of roads with anti-drone nets by year-end, minister says

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

KYIV - Ukraine will accelerate the placement of anti-drone nets over roads in frontline areas, aiming to cover 4,000 kilometres of roads by the end of this year, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Wednesday.

Russia has been targeting military supply routes and rear bases deeper and deeper into Ukraine with the remotely piloted aircraft.

Its drones have also struck hospitals, infrastructure and civilian traffic.

A growing number of nets have been installed over the past year, but more are needed, Fedorov said, adding that an additional 1.6 billion hryvnias (US$37 million) had been allocated from the budget to bolster protection measures and counter Russian drones.

Nets can snag propellers and prevent drones from reaching their targets - high-value equipment, soldiers or civilians.

“In just one month, we increased the speed from 5 km per day in January to 12 km in February. This significantly improved the safety of military movements and ensured stable functioning of frontline communities,” Fedorov said on the Telegram app.

“In March, we plan to close 20 km of roads per day. By the end of the year, we plan to install another 4,000 km of anti-drone protection on roads.”

Ukraine would also expedite the construction of fortifications in the northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy and the northern Chernihiv regions, bordering Russia, Fedorov said.

Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Nivedita Bhattacharjee