<p>The Russia-Ukraine conflict is getting terrifying as time progresses. To cope with Russian drone threats, specifically explosive FPV drones, Ukrainian forces have started adding crude "cage armour" over vehicles like Humvees and even M1 Abrams tanks. Both Russia and Ukraine have started to protect themselves with an extensive DIY aesthetic that resembles the post-apocalyptic, dystopian action film ‘Mad Max’. A Humvee near Donetsk feature a cage structure with metal spikes- that are designed to repel drone strikes.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Photo of a Ukrainian humvee with a CUAS cage and sticks.<a href="https://t.co/nif5MYT6fT">https://t.co/nif5MYT6fT</a> <a href="https://t.co/5vYAn3GkhC">pic.twitter.com/5vYAn3GkhC</a></p>&mdash; Rob Lee (@RALee85) <a href="https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1955198627112013970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Traditional armour is no longer enough. A Kyiv-based team led by ‘Musa’, a former doctor, has built one-off buggies with welded frames, oversized wheels, and decorative teeth on the grille. These serve as rapid response, transport, and evacuation vehicles. The speed of the evolving drone technology in the span of the war has compelled both Russia and Ukraine to improvise. Last month, a video surfaced which shows a tank shielded by a massive cage, which reportedly needed 60 drones to take out. The armouring effort includes integrating metal cages, netting, chains, protruding spikes, metal plates, and more, sometimes alongside additional explosive reactive armour.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russian monster tank reportedly took 60 FPV drones to destroy.<br><br>Its armor was so tough, operators struggled to find a single weak spot. <a href="https://t.co/AJLn120qQJ">pic.twitter.com/AJLn120qQJ</a></p>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1943786337326575792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Pick up trucks such as Mitsubishi L200, Ford Rangers, Toyota Hilux, are weaponised with machine guns, rocket launchers and anti-air weapons, to act as agile militarised platforms. The long, drawn-out war has pushed Ukraine to the brink. To save lives and money, hybrid armoured vehicles named “Frankentanks” are constructed, combining the hull of a T-62 tank with a turret of a BMP-2 armed with a 30 mm 2A42 autocanon; these are born not out of flamboyancy but out of necessity.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More (+unblured) photos of Technical MLRS in service with the Ukrainian army. Technical uses S-8 aircraft missiles. Drones are used for MLRS adjustment. <br><br>+I am attaching a video from a real battle to the thread<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/oryxspioenkop?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@oryxspioenkop</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Arslon_Xudosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Arslon_Xudosi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UAWeapons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UAWeapons</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Blue_Sauron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Blue_Sauron</a> <a href="https://t.co/hgr6WF2mF2">pic.twitter.com/hgr6WF2mF2</a></p>&mdash; Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) <a href="https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1533424541585776640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tsar Mangal: Russian propagandists showed tanks with a new version of anti-drone cladding <a href="https://t.co/QRQiKA6WC7">pic.twitter.com/QRQiKA6WC7</a></p>&mdash; NEXTA (@nexta_tv) <a href="https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1826641003681399105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>The surge in drone warfare has led to the need for creative solutions for both sides. Caged armour can be seen as one of them. But these don't come with drawbacks, at times limiting mobility and visibility. These improvisations are salvaging something out of nothing, turning civilians into military parts and creating life-saving military tools on the frontline.&nbsp;</p>

With the rapid inclusion of cheap drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, both nations are seeking creative and resourceful solutions, thus turning existing military as well as civilian vehicles into post-apocalyptic war machines.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is getting terrifying as time progresses. To cope with Russian drone threats, specifically explosive FPV drones, Ukrainian forces have started adding crude "cage armour" over vehicles like Humvees and even M1 Abrams tanks. Both Russia and Ukraine have started to protect themselves with an extensive DIY aesthetic that resembles the post-apocalyptic, dystopian action film ‘Mad Max’. A Humvee near Donetsk feature a cage structure with metal spikes- that are designed to repel drone strikes.

<p>With the rapid inclusion of cheap drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, both nations are seeking creative and resourceful solutions, thus turning existing military as well as civilian vehicles into post-apocalyptic war machines.</p>

Ukraine's 'Mad Max' war machines: From spiked Humvees to Frankeen tanks in the fight against drones

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Ukraine's 'Mad Max' war machines: From spiked Humvees to Frankeen tanks in the fight against drones