Russia has begun fitting its Black Sea patrol boats with improvised anti-drone netting after a series of Ukrainian unmanned attacks near occupied Crimea’s Kerch Bridge.
Images posted by Ukrainian blogger Serhii Sternenko on Telegram on Monday show Project 21980 “Grachonok” anti-sabotage patrol boats equipped with metal-frame structures and mesh netting covering portions of the vessel’s superstructure.
“Russians have begun installing protective ‘cages’ on Project 21980 ‘Grachonok’ patrol boats in an attempt to defend them against drones,” the caption reads.
🚨⚡️ Lesson one: Russia adapts faster.
Black Sea Fleet Grachonok boats now fully caged against drone swarms. 🇷🇺🔥
The “cope cage” era has reached the navy. pic.twitter.com/ChDUUXjz0I
— RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) May 11, 2026
The Grachonok is described by Russia as a multi-purpose anti-saboteur boat. Primarily intended to protect ports and other naval installations, the ships are operated by both the Russian Navy and the Border Service.
The vessels are equipped with hydroacoustic systems such as “Kalmar” and “Anapa,” designed to detect underwater activity and combat divers.Their standard armament includes a 14.5 mm naval machine gun mount, DP-65A and DP-64 anti-diver grenade launchers, as well as portable air-defense systems such as the Igla and Verba.
Roughly 30 Grachonok-class vessels have been built since 2008, with Ukrainian sources estimating that nine are assigned to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and four to the Border Service.
The War Zone noted in its report that this may be the first time Russia has used anti-drone netting for boat protection. The country has previously used similar add-on protective structures on tanks and other fighting vehicles. Ukraine also employs the same type of protection.
TWZ added that a “cope cage” has also appeared on at least one Russian Navy ballistic missile submarine, the Tula.
The recent changes follow multiple Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian naval assets near the Kerch Bridge, including a reported April 30 attack on a Grachonok patrol boat that Ukrainian sources said killed nine crew members and wounded two others.
Night operation success: Ukraine’s Navy hit Russian vessels in the Kerch Strait.
“Sobol” and “Grachonok” — key assets protecting the Kerch Bridge — were struck, enemy losses reported.
Systematic pressure on Russia’s Black Sea presence continues. pic.twitter.com/qszwIFXhVP— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 30, 2026
