Old fishing nets from France become vital protection against Russian drones in Ukraine.

Kim Willsher   The Guardian8 November 2025
The lifespan of a deep-sea net is between 12 and 24 months, after which they become worn and beyond repair.

Until now, the estimated 800 tonnes of nets scrapped every year have been a problem.

Now, the horsehair netting, once used to trawl monkfish, is being used for another catch: Russian drones, shielding civilians and soldiers.