Bird nests of fibre-optic cables show war's impact on Ukraine
A new phenomenon in Ukraine: birds are weaving fibre-optic cables, likely damaged during the war, into their nests. The use of these man-made materials in place of natural twigs highlights the conflict's deep environmental and infrastructural impact on the country.
Background
- The article describes Ukraine's landscape being covered with tangled, exposed fibre-optic cables that resemble bird nests — a physical sign of the war's toll on infrastructure.
- Because conventional radio-based drones are easily jammed, both Ukraine and Russia have turned to fibre-optic tethered drones (FODs), which pay out a thin cable as they fly, making them immune to electronic warfare.
- The cables are left behind after missions, creating hazards for vehicles, animals, and repair crews, and are a visible reminder of how battlefield technology is reshaping the country.
- Key context: Since 2024, fibre-optic drones have become a critical innovation in the war. They allow operators to pilot drones without radio signals, preventing jamming or detection by electronic warfare systems, but at the cost of leaving thousands of kilometers of vulnerable cable across the terrain.