Russian Baltic Fleet Deploys Anti-Drone Netting on Landing Ships Amid Escalating Maritime Threats

The Russian Navy has begun installing makeshift anti-drone mesh netting on its vessels, including the Project 775 landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin, as it attempts to counter the rising threat of Ukrainian uncrewed aerial systems in the Baltic Sea. While military analysts suggest these screens provide limited protection against small commercial drones, they remain ineffective against purpose-built, heavy-payload strike systems currently utilized in the conflict.

Why Is Russia Installing Mesh Netting on Naval Vessels?

The installation of thin, green garden-style netting across the superstructures of Russian warships represents an urgent, improvised response to the proliferation of First-Person View (FPV) drones. According to reports from the Russian military Telegram channel *Voenny Osvedomitel*, these screens are intended to detonate the warheads of small, light-weight drones before they reach the ship’s hull or critical sensors.

However, the effectiveness of this defense is widely questioned by defense observers. The netting is designed to stop light, commercial-grade quadcopters. It offers no structural resistance to heavier, purpose-built strike drones, such as the Ukrainian-made FP-2, which carry significantly larger explosive payloads and are engineered to penetrate armored targets.

The Strategic Role of the Aleksandr Shabalin

The deployment of the Aleksandr Shabalin to escort cargo vessels like the Mikhail Britnev highlights a growing shortage of dedicated surface combatants within the Russian Baltic Fleet. Originally designed in Poland as a Ropucha-class landing ship, the *Shabalin* is intended for amphibious operations—specifically transporting armored vehicles and infantry for beach landings—rather than acting as a defensive escort vessel.

The use of an aging, 4,080-metric-ton landing ship to protect merchant traffic underscores the pressure on Russian maritime logistics. Since 2026, the Russian government has formalized naval escorts for civilian vessels in the Baltic to prevent inspections and detentions by NATO-aligned maritime forces. The reliance on non-specialized, older vessels to perform these escort duties suggests that the Russian Navy lacks sufficient modern frigates or corvettes to maintain a continuous, high-capability presence in the region.

Broader Trends in Russian Maritime Defense

The use of anti-drone netting has expanded beyond the Black Sea, appearing on vessels across the Russian Northern and Pacific fleets. In May 2026, *Naval News* reported that satellite imagery confirmed the presence of similar netting on Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines stationed at the Rybachiy base. This suggests that the Russian military command views long-range drone threats as a credible risk even in strategic deep-water bases thousands of kilometers from the front lines in Ukraine.

While the Russian defense industry continues to develop more sophisticated systems, such as the fiber-optic-tethered multicopter turrets patented by Murmansk Arctic University in 2025, these technologies remain in limited supply. For now, the Russian Navy relies on a mixture of electronic warfare jamming and physical improvisations—like the green mesh—to manage a rapidly evolving maritime threat environment.

Key Takeaways

• Improvised Defense: The Russian Navy is using garden-style mesh to protect vessels from FPV drones, a tactic acknowledged as ineffective against heavy strike systems.
• Logistical Strain: The Aleksandr Shabalin, an amphibious landing ship, is being repurposed for convoy escort duties, signaling a depletion of dedicated surface combatants.
• Expanding Threat Perimeter: Anti-drone netting has been identified on strategic assets as far away as the Pacific Fleet’s Rybachiy base, indicating widespread concern regarding long-range drone capabilities.
• Comparison of Tactics: While Russia is pursuing high-tech solutions like electronic jamming and tethered drones, the immediate, widespread adoption of low-tech mesh netting reflects an urgent need to signal defensive readiness amidst mounting maritime security challenges.