Russian forces have begun constructing fake trees to hide communication antennas from Ukrainian drone surveillance, according to Ukrainian military and monitoring sources.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser, said one of the most pressing issues along the front line is identifying and destroying electronic warfare systems, signals intelligence assets, and drone control points.
These systems are unified by a key vulnerability - antennas, which are difficult to conceal from experienced aerial reconnaissance teams.
Foam, mesh, and paint: how Russia builds decoy trees
Militarnyi reported that Russian troops are manufacturing tree-shaped decoys designed to blend into the landscape while concealing communication equipment inside.
According to the report, the structures are built using a plastic mesh frame shaped into a trunk and canopy to create the outline of a tree. The frame is then covered with construction foam to give it rigidity and texture before being painted to match the surrounding terrain.
An antenna is installed inside the artificial tree. The goal is to make the object appear as part of the natural environment when viewed from above, increasing the chances it will be overlooked by Ukrainian drone operators conducting aerial reconnaissance.
The development reflects the ongoing technological adaptation on both sides of the war, where drones play a central role in detecting command posts, electronic warfare assets, and communication nodes across the battlefield.
