A Russian Molniya-2 kamikaze drone was brought down by a Ukrainian FPV drone reportedly using electronic warfare capabilities, footage shared on 9 June showed, according to Militarnyi. 

The video shows the Russian Molniya-2 drone losing control as a Ukrainian interceptor approached. Militarnyi reports that this suggests the use of an onboard electronic warfare (EW) system, which jammed the UAV’s control signals and forced it to crash. The operators of Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces reportedly executed this interception using a non-contact approach.

Rising use of EW against cheap Russian drones

This is not the first known incident of a Ukrainian drone using EW methods to down a Russian UAV. Similar interceptions of Molniya drones were previously noted starting in mid-March, with a growing frequency through April and May. 

One likely vulnerability in the Molniya-2 drones is the use of ERLS control systems with active telemetry, allowing the detection of the UAV’s control frequencies. Ukrainian forces have reportedly exploited this flaw by emitting targeted jamming in narrow frequency bands. This method does not require high-power systems and can be deployed directly from the intercepting drone.

Cheap design and battlefield adaptability of Molniya-2

The Molniya-2 is a fixed-wing kamikaze drone developed as a low-cost, mass-produced weapon. Its construction involves foam, plastic, aluminum tubing, and wooden components. Electronics and engines are mostly standardized with FPV drones.

The Molniya-2 can fly up to 60 kilometers and reach speeds of 120 km/h. Its payload varies depending on the launch method. The drone can carry explosive charges or a TM-62 mine weighing up to 10 kilograms, according to Russian state media.

Militarnyi had earlier reported that Russian forces began adapting Molniya drones to serve as carriers for FPV drones.

Russia has overtaken Ukraine in long-range drone production, with Chinese technology playing a critical role, Ukrainian officials told Politico.

According to Oleh Aleksandrov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia is receiving a steady supply of essential drone components from China. These include electronics, navigation and optical systems, engines, and processor modules.

“They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control and avoid sanctions,” Aleksandrov said.

Ukraine’s early drone lead narrows

Politico says Ukraine previously led the drone war. In 2024, it produced up to 1 million tactical drones, with plans for 2.5 million tactical and 30,000 long-range drones in 2025. However, Moscow is catching up. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently told journalists that Ukraine produces about 100 long-range drones per day, while Russia is now producing 300 daily and targeting 500.

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Aleksandrov said Russia increased its long-range drone production from 15,000 in 2024 to over 30,000 in 2025 and aims to make up to 2 million tactical drones this year. General Oleksandr Syrskyi said the Ukrainian military must “constantly increase our capabilities to be one step ahead.”

Kyiv says China has restricted Ukraine’s access to new drones while allowing Russia continued access.

“The Chinese Mavic is open to the Russians, and it is closed to the Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said, adding that it’s now unavailable across Europe, but Russia still obtains them.

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Russia’s drone tech evolves

Moscow has adopted drones powered via fiber optic cables, which are immune to radio jamming and harder to detect. Ukrainian troops can no longer easily spot them in the sky and now rely on acoustic tools.

“We have to use different acoustic and other means to trace those drones,” said Andrii, a Ukrainian army commander.

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Russia is also improving electronic warfare. Andriy said only about 20% of government-supplied drones are usable due to shifting radio frequencies.

“We constantly have to spend additional funds and time to reconfigure those drones,” he said.

Mass production across Russia

Russia’s drone production is concentrated in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, where Shahed drones are assembled. The Kupol plant in Izhevsk produces Garpiya drones. Other production centers are located in Moscow Oblast, Ekaterinburg, and St. Petersburg.

Aleksandrov said Russia plans to produce 30,000 long-range drones and 30,000 decoy drones in 2025. Additionally, Russia aims to manufacture 2 million FPV drones this year.

Ukraine’s Patrol Police Khyzhak (“Predator”) Brigade successfully demonstrated the destruction of Russian FPV drone ambushes using their own advanced drone systems, Militarnyi reported on 25 May. The unit released video footage showing how Ukrainian FPV drones identified and eliminated Russian fiber-optic-controlled UAVs positioned to ambush Ukrainian military vehicles.

According to the brigade’s press service, Russian drones were hidden along travel routes and set in standby mode, waiting to strike Ukrainian targets. Ukrainian FPV drones were deployed to locate and destroy these devices. The video also shows the use of bomber-type drones dropping munitions on enemy assets.

Constant airspace monitoring and demining

The Brigade stated:

“In addition to the direct destruction of occupiers, we constantly have to monitor the airspace in our zone of responsibility and work on remote demining of roads.”

The Russian use of fiber-optic-controlled drones, designed to evade radio-electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems, poses a severe danger to Ukrainian troops, even deep behind the frontlines.

YLE: Recycled fishing nets become Ukraine’s frontline anti-drone tool

Ukrainian long-range fiber-optic drone development

To achieve parity, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are actively developing their own fiber-optic-controlled UAVs. In April, over 15 Ukrainian UAV manufacturers tested their systems, completing obstacle-filled routes over 20 km while simulating combat conditions. The results showed a significant breakthrough: previous Ukrainian drones were limited to a range of 5–10 km, but the new systems can engage targets well beyond 20 km. 

Fishing nets once discarded by Nordic fishermen are now protecting Ukrainian soldiers from drone attacks. YLE reports that old fishing nets from Sweden and Denmark are being installed above trenches and shelter entrances to slow or neutralize falling explosives and disrupt Russian drone operations. The unconventional method has proven useful as drones play an increasingly central role in modern warfare.

According to YLE, as one of the responses to drone threats, Ukraine has begun deploying old Nordic fishing nets to interfere with these airborne threats.

Danish fishing nets, rendered unusable after Brexit barred Danish fishing in UK waters, have been donated to Ukraine in large volumes. YLE notes that a March report indicates that Denmark alone has provided nets worth approximately €2.5 million.

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Additional significant donations have come from private individuals. Bernard Christensen, a member of a Polish-Ukrainian aid organization, told Sweden’s SVT:

“All kinds of nets are extremely useful. Ukrainians are resourceful and find a use for every net we can get to them.”

The nets are effective in delaying the detonation of aerial explosives and stopping drones before they reach their targets. Also, drone propellers sometimes get entangled in the netting, preventing drones from completing their mission.

Russia also adopting similar methods

Ukraine is not the only one utilizing such unconventional tactics. Russian troops are also deploying fishing nets to cover entire roads and protect logistics routes.