Italian policymakers are advancing a novel legislative initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s civil and military defences against Russian drone attacks through a pragmatic yet highly effective approach: the donation of discarded fishing nets. The proposed bill, tabled by Senator Ivan Scalfarotto of the centrist Italia Viva party, seeks to incentivise Italian fishing companies to supply used nets to Ukraine, offering exemptions from disposal costs and payments based on the weight of material delivered.
Ukraine has faced relentless drone attacks targeting hospitals, roads, civilian traffic, and critical infrastructure throughout 2026, prompting the installation of anti-drone nets across frontline areas, including near Kharkiv. These nets function by physically snagging drone propellers, neutralising unmanned aerial threats without reliance on complex electronic countermeasures.
Experts note that while high-tech systems such as radar-guided interceptors or jamming devices offer advanced capabilities, fishing nets represent a low-cost, scalable, and immediately deployable alternative. According to Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reports, nets have successfully disabled more than 120 drones in active deployment zones since January 2026, preventing significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
The Scalfarotto bill proposes a dual incentive framework: Italian fishing companies donating nets would avoid disposal fees, which currently average €1.50 per kilogram of discarded net, and would receive compensation calibrated to the weight and type of net material. This approach is intended to simultaneously alleviate environmental waste concerns and supply Ukraine with essential defensive materials.
Charity organisations across Europe, including entities in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Britain, and France, have already contributed to Ukraine’s net-based defences, demonstrating the viability of this unconventional support mechanism. Italy has historically been a major contributor to Ukraine’s military efforts, having provided 12 separate aid packages since the Russian invasion in February 2022, including air defence systems and logistical support.
The bill highlights divisions within the Italian ruling coalition. While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party and Forza Italia remain strongly pro-Ukraine, the far-right League has often signalled pro-Russian sentiment, making parliamentary support for net donations both a humanitarian and a geopolitical statement.
Scalfarotto emphasised the practical value of nets, stating: “Fishing nets used in the Mediterranean for millennia are an effective countermeasure against a weapon of death. They may seem basic, but combined with modern technological tools, their impact is profound.”
Italy’s initiative reflects a broader trend of adaptive, low-cost solutions in modern conflict zones, where conventional high-tech defences are complemented by practical materials readily available in civilian sectors. By incentivising fishing companies to repurpose nets for Ukraine, Rome is merging economic policy, environmental stewardship, and strategic military support in a single legislative framework.