The 46th Separate Air Mobile Brigade showcased a clip of a drone with a fishing rod-style device trying to take down enemy quadcopters. Red annotation by Business Insider. 46th Separate Air Mobile Brigade
Ukrainian forces have unveiled an improvised but effective new method for intercepting enemy drones, one that replaces explosives and electronic warfare with something far simpler: a fishing rod dangling from the sky. Footage released this week shows Ukrainian drones physically snaring Russian drones midair using a corded pole, as reported by Business Insider.
The video was published by the 46th Separate Airmobile Podilskaya Brigade and shows at least two successful interceptions. In both cases, a Ukrainian first person view drone flies above a Russian target, trailing a line attached to a short rod mounted on its frame. As the line tangles with the enemy drone’s propellers or structure, the aircraft loses control and crashes.
From the onboard camera perspective, the setup looks crude but deliberate. The cord appears closer to paracord than traditional fishing line, suggesting a focus on strength and entanglement rather than cutting. The brigade described the tactic as a “capture” of enemy drones, distinguishing it from explosive interception methods that destroy both aircraft.
The approach reflects how rapidly drone warfare has evolved in Ukraine. Early in the conflict, both sides leaned heavily on electronic warfare to jam or spoof drone signals. That strategy has become less reliable as drones increasingly use fiber optic tethers or hardened communication systems that are resistant to jamming. As a result, physical interception has returned as a practical solution.
Interceptor drones now fall into two broad categories. Expendable systems ram or explode on contact, sacrificing themselves to destroy the target. Reusable interceptors aim to disable enemy drones while surviving the engagement. The fishing rod method appears to fall squarely into the second category, offering a low cost way to neutralize threats without expending a drone each time.
Ukraine has experimented widely in this space. Companies such as 3DTech and Besomar have tested drones equipped with shotgun style weapons, while Technari has explored jet powered interceptor designs. At the strategic level, Ukraine and the United Kingdom agreed in late 2025 to begin licensed production of the OCTOPUS interceptor drone, aimed at larger long range threats like Iranian designed Shahed drones.
What makes the fishing rod tactic notable is its simplicity. It avoids ammunition, recoil, and complex targeting, relying instead on pilot skill and basic physics. In an environment where drones are cheap, numerous, and constantly evolving, such low tech adaptations can be deployed quickly and modified in the field.
As both sides continue to innovate, Ukraine’s latest interception method underscores a defining feature of the conflict. In drone warfare, effectiveness often matters more than elegance, and sometimes the fastest solution looks less like a weapon and more like a tool pulled from a tackle box.
