A Russian drone controlled via a fiber-optic cable has reached the northern outskirts of Kharkiv.
This was reported by military radio technology specialist and adviser to the Minister of Defense, Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov, and later confirmed by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Beskrestnov, the arrival of an Russian fiber-optic UAV in Kharkiv represents a real technological threat that Ukraine will need to address. He emphasized that detection based on electronic intelligence alone will not work. Radar stations could help, but in the case of low-flying drones, even they are not a guaranteed solution.
“Acoustics? Possibly,” he added.
The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that on February 25, around 3:00 PM, the occupiers, violating the laws and customs of war, deployed a 13-inch FPV drone controlled via fiber-optic cable over the Kyivskyi district.
The Russian drone struck a tree.
“This is the first recorded use of a fiber-optic FPV drone over Kharkiv since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” the statement said.
Fiber-optic drones are UAVs controlled through a thin fiber-optic cable that unspools during flight, providing a direct connection to the operator. This technology prevents electronic signal jamming, making the drone less vulnerable to electronic warfare and interception. However, fiber-optic drones have limited range and maneuverability due to the physical tether, which can break or become tangled.
