Rusty 'hairy monsters': Russia's odd drone defenses in Ukraine
Russian combat vehicles on the front in eastern Ukraine surprise with their unusual appearance. Metal elements resembling hair are designed to protect against drones, reports "The Telegraph".
On the front in eastern Ukraine, a Russian combat vehicle with an unusual appearance was spotted. Metal elements resembling hair, as experts highlighted in a conversation with "The Telegraph," are an improvised method of defence against drones.
The vehicle, referred to as the "hairy monster", is a rusted BMP-1 with metal sheets and surrounded by twisted metal elements.
It was registered near Chasiw Yar in the Donetsk region, where intense military actions are ongoing. The vehicle was featured in a report on the Russian state television channel Russia1.
Metal sheets called "protective caps" were already used during World War I.
The novelty lies in the dangling steel strands over the open rear part of the vehicle and the thick "bristles" protruding from its sides. Military analyst Oleksandr Daniluk admitted that it was the first time he had seen this form of defence in a conflict.
Ukrainian weapons expert Valeriy Riabykh pointed out that the metal "hairs" might serve to detonate the warheads of small FPV drones prematurely. The makeshift modifications are part of broader efforts to protect armoured vehicles from increasingly advanced drones.
Russian combat vehicles with unusual protection on the eastern Ukrainian front show how defence methods are changing in the face of modern threats. "The Telegraph" emphasizes that such innovations may affect the future of armed conflicts.
