Ukraine Faces a New Threat: The Rise of Russian Fiber-Optic Drones on the Battlefield

Kyiv region, UKRAINE — Amidst the rain-soaked forest of the Kyiv region, 35-year-old engineer Andriy Tchornim finds refuge beneath the canopy of a navy blue 4×4 vehicle. With his gaze fixed on the joystick, he remains oblivious to the heavy downpour relentlessly battering his face.

If you listen closely above the howling wind, a drone’s faint hum can be discerned. A slender thread, almost imperceptible, snakes around his face and hair, trailing to the ground where it disappears into the nearby grass, entangled in the surrounding vegetation.

Tchornim, who works for the defense tech company Technohawk, is conducting the inaugural field tests of their innovative fiber-optic drone, named Shtorm.

«This new breed of drones is set to transform the dynamics of warfare,» Tchornim states.

In 2024, due to the escalating threat of drones, all parties involved in the conflict heavily invested in electronic warfare technology. Now, this fiber-optic drone threatens to make such advancements obsolete.

«The fiber-optic cable can extend up to 10-20 kilometers, ensuring a solid connection between the drone and its operator,» he elaborates.

“With this connection, the drone becomes undetectable and, crucially, completely immune to any electronic warfare tactics,» adds Volodymyr Makhitko, Technohawk’s chief engineer.

«This allows us to hit enemy supply lines precisely, without the risk of being disrupted by the jamming technology currently used in combat,» he emphasizes.

Hailing from eastern Ukraine and holding a degree in aerospace engineering, Makhitko shares his concerns regarding this emerging technology.

Historically, Ukraine has been at the forefront of drone warfare, yet it now finds itself trailing behind Russian advancements.

Used extensively during Russia’s counteroffensive in the Kursk region, this technology has contributed to Moscow’s recent victories against Ukrainian forces there, analysts suggest.

Following its deployment in Kursk, Russian drone units were repositioned to the Pokrovsk front, a zone responsible for 70% of all Russian attacks — a development that raises alarms in Ukraine about potential further disruptions to the already precarious logistics between cities in the Donbas.

In light of the Russian military’s technological progress, Ukraine is racing to catch up. On the ground, troops are making do with their available resources.

In Pokrovsk, Captain Ihor Matviyishyn succinctly remarks: thus far, the central authorities in Kyiv have not initiated any large-scale production of fiber-optic drones.

«The only fiber-optic drones on our side are created by the units themselves,» he states, noting that specifically organized groups like Azov, Magyar, or Achilles possess these drones.

In his workshop near Kyiv, Makhitko expresses cautious optimism about the situation. He believes that with the current momentum, they could close the gap within months, all while monitoring the activity of 3D printers behind him. He is confident that, from a technical perspective, the challenge is manageable.

According to Technohawk CEO Viktor Zubenko, these drones are not a groundbreaking technological achievement.

Makhitko insists that the main hurdle lies in scaling up production: «As is often the case, the challenge is in increasing the output, not in the design itself.»

Zubenko points out, however, that Ukrainian drones generally exhibit superior quality, hitting targets 80% of the time, compared to the Russians, who achieve success only 25% of the time.

Ukraine already boasts a robust FPV drone ecosystem. Yet, the mass production of fiber-optic drones is contingent upon the availability of the cables essential for their operation — components mainly sourced from China.

Currently, fiber-optic spools can be ordered from AliExpress, but reliance on Chinese supplies is becoming a growing concern.

In response, Ukrainian manufacturers are actively pursuing alternatives, particularly as China’s alignment with Moscow deepens. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that Beijing has ended drone exports to Ukraine and its allies while continuing to supply Russia.

To counter this limitation, Ukraine’s Autonomous Systems Forces unveiled a new device in late February: the Silkworm, a domestically designed, modular fiber-optic spool that can be fitted to both FPV drones and unmanned ground vehicles, which encounter similar communication issues on the battlefield.

«The challenge now is to organize this emerging production,» Zubenko explains. «We’re reducing our dependency on Chinese spools. This conflict has evolved into one of adaptation and innovation, and Ukraine must be agile in its responses.»

While this technology has allowed Russia to regain an advantage in the drone conflict traditionally dominated by Ukraine, the fiber-optic drone also has its weaknesses, as noted by Makhitko.

Firstly, with its large canister that holds the fiber-optic cable during flight, the drone is easily detectable. «With a good shotgun, it can be shot down fairly easily,» asserts Tchornim.

Secondly, due to the weight of the canister—up to 5 kilograms—the explosive payload must be minimized, potentially affecting its impact.

Moreover, a fiber-optic drone is more cumbersome to maneuver compared to smaller FPV drones, insists Zubenko.

Lastly, Makhitko notes that the bundle of fiber-optic cables linking some drones to their operators can make them easier to spot. Once detected, they become prime targets for counter-battery fire, necessitating frequent relocations and diminishing their effectiveness in combat.

Additionally, these drones are ill-suited for the wooded terrains of Donbas, Kharkiv, or Sumy, he explains. In dense underbrush, cables easily snag on branches, and the fiber can break under pressure. A single vehicle or animal crossing its path can sever the connection.

Despite these limitations, Captain Matviyishyn is unequivocal: the fiber-optic drone promises to transform the battlefield.

«While these drones won’t replace the entire arsenal, they will undoubtedly emerge as a key weapon,» he asserts. «The war’s outcome will hinge, in part, on our ability to cultivate our own industry while developing defenses against them.»