Russian occupation forces have begun constructing tunnel-like corridors made of netting in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast to protect their logistics routes from Ukrainian drone strikes. These improvised tunnels have appeared along key roads near the occupied village of Karlivka, which is close to the front lines of the ongoing Russian offensive aimed at capturing Pokrovsk.
A video circulating on social media platform TikTok, posted by a user known as kayla_tsk, shows one of the net-covered corridors near Karlivka. The footage was taken after the dam at the Karlivka reservoir was destroyed on 12 April 2024 following Russian missile strikes. The attack caused a sudden and uncontrolled release of water into the Vovcha River, resulting in widespread flooding downstream. This further disrupted the road infrastructure and forced drivers to use alternative routes.
The net tunnels are being installed along the E50 highway, a vital road connecting Russian-held Donetsk to Pokrovsk. These corridors are designed to give Russian supply convoys some measure of protection from Ukrainian first person view drones, which are used with great precision and regularity by Ukraine’s Armed Forces. The occupied towns of Selidove and Novohrodivka are among the main logistical hubs currently benefiting from these improvised defences.
The use of such net-based shielding systems by Russian forces first appeared in mid 2023 near Bakhmut, though at the time they were limited to separate net barriers. Those structures have since evolved into full-length covered routes in areas like Kupiansk, where fishing nets were used to form protective corridors. These nets are more effective than chain-link fencing at entangling drones without detonating them on contact. Whereas chain-link nets often cause drones to explode, fishing nets tend to trap them and reduce their impact.
Despite their simplicity and low cost, these systems are time-consuming and difficult to maintain. Their construction requires poles to be embedded into the ground, and nets to be stretched overhead — all under constant threat from Ukrainian drone attacks. Once completed, the structures still require frequent repair due to environmental damage or drone activity.
The Russian military’s increasing reliance on such crude methods of defence highlights the growing effectiveness of Ukrainian drone operations in the east.
