To protect against Russian drones in Kherson, nets that were previously tested are being used. Previously they were used to cover Ukrainian military positions and critical facilities. In 2025 the defense system moved to the military-civilian sector, in particular to critical infrastructure facilities.
This was reported during the 2025 year-end press conference by the head of the Kherson OVA, Oleksandr Prokudin.
The main priorities when selecting the nets were durability, quality, optimal cost and the ability to integrate into the existing defense system. All the nets underwent testing at ranges, and currently three types that have already proven effective are used in Kherson.
According to Oleksandr Prokudin, the military has currently identified 27 sites where net tunnels are being installed, with a total length of 217 kilometers of roads.
The project requires 261 million hryvnias to implement. Currently 350–370 military personnel and an additional 30–40 employees of local utility companies are working on its execution.
From the regional budget for 2025, 53.8 million hryvnias were allocated, which allowed more than 100 km of roads to be covered with nets.
“Regarding international support, of course, volunteer nets from other countries arrive. They come in varying quality: some are poor, some better, and some are very good. Right now it is these high-quality ones that cover critical and medical facilities in the city and region. When volunteer nets arrive, we check them. We do not have the right to use poor-quality nets, because people’s lives and health depend on this,” — said Oleksandr Prokudin.
According to Oleksandr Prokudin, the nets have proven their effectiveness, and so far there has not been a single case of a drone flying through the net tunnels.
“There were cases when drones of the “Molniya” type struck military targets where such nets were installed, but they simply pierced the nets and fell onto the roadway, not reaching the target,” — added Prokudin.
Recall that in an interview with MOST the head of the Kherson MVA Yaroslav Shanko noted that in Kherson in 2026 they will continue and expand work on installing anti-drone nets on the city’s streets.
Earlier the head of the KhOVA Oleksandr Prokudin told MOST that, unlike the Mykolaiv policemen, the Kherson does not see overpayments on purchases of anti-drone nets, which were carried out by the Department for Civil Protection and Defense Work of the Kherson ODA. That is why the investigation is being conducted by law enforcement officers of the neighboring region.