Italy Proposes Donating Used Fishing Nets to Ukraine for Protection Against Drones

A bill was presented in the Italian Senate to establish a state mechanism for transferring decommissioned fishing nets to Ukraine to protect against Russian drones.

Dmytro Shchukin, President of the Network of Associations for Ukraine (NAU), who participated in the presentation, reported this to Ukrinform.

Senator Ivan Scalfarotto authored the bill. Other Italian politicians also supported his initiative.

The initiative provides for the creation of a mechanism to encourage companies to transfer decommissioned nets rather than dispose of them.

According to Shchukin, if the bill is passed, it could set an important precedent for other European countries, establishing a new practice of using civilian resources to protect the population.

During the presentation, it was noted that this bill is a simple solution that can tangibly strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against drone attacks.

Similar methods are already in use, but the need remains high, especially in frontline cities.

In Ukraine, fishing nets are used as a simple and affordable means of countering Russian drones, primarily FPV and strike UAVs.

They are stretched primarily over roads near the front line, creating a physical barrier in which drones can become entangled or crash, keeping them at a safe distance from vehicles.

The nets have become one of the few ways to counter Russian fiber-optic FPV drones, which cannot be jammed by electronic warfare (EW) systems. This significantly reduces the risk of casualties among personnel and damage to equipment.

As the role of drones on the battlefield grows, even such simple solutions remain a crucial element of a multi-layered defense against unmanned threats to both military personnel and civilians.

It should be noted that as of February 2026, Ukrainian defenders were using 5–6 models of interceptor drones to shoot down 80% of Russian Shaheds and Gerberas.