The use of drones with fiber-optic communication by the Russian Armed Forces is increasingly being recorded on the fronts of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which are becoming an effective tool for organizing ambushes on the supply routes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These systems, distinguished by their stealth and resistance to electronic warfare (EW), allow for precision strikes on enemy equipment while remaining invulnerable to traditional methods of suppressing drones. The main goal of such operations is to intercept and destroy the logistics chains of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the line of combat contact, where conventional FPV drones, dependent on radio signals, lose their effectiveness due to the active use of EW by the enemy.

The peculiarity of fiber-optic drones is the use of a cable up to several kilometers long, which ensures reliable control and data transmission without the risk of interception or jamming of the signal. This allows operators to covertly maneuver the drone, bringing it to an attack position in conditions where standard communication systems are useless. This technology is especially valuable in narrow sections of the front with predictable routes of enemy equipment. Russian troops actively use these systems to hunt armored vehicles, evacuation vehicles and vehicles traveling along reconnoitered roads. Among the areas where their use has been recorded, the South Donetsk, Toretsk and Kupyansk sections stand out, as well as the border areas of the Kursk region, which became a zone of increased activity after the offensive actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in August 2024.

Ambush tactics using fiber optic drones are highly effective due to their ability to remain in standby mode for long periods of time. Unlike traditional FPV drones, which expend energy maintaining a radio signal, these drones can be placed in strategic locations, such as on rooftops or in forested areas, and activated only when a target appears. This not only ensures stealth, but also saves resources, allowing operators to strike with minimal costs. The main targets are single vehicles or small columns, which complicates the supply of Ukrainian positions on the front lines.