Why Shotguns Are Fast Becoming Ukrainian Soldiers’ Last Line of Defense Against Russian Drones

The modern battlefield is now swarming with all types of drones from both sides, making these "last line" close-range anti-drone measures more crucial than ever. In recent years, a cottage industry has emerged, drawing serious attention from militaries worldwide and setting its sights on massive defense contracts.

Pump-action shotguns are among several cost-effective solutions for the "everyman soldier" who may not have access to electronic warfare (EW) systems—or for those whose EW suddenly stops working at the worst possible time.

To understand just how much drones have reshaped the battlefield, UNITED24 Media spoke with James Fensom, a former UK soldier now serving in Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (DIU). His frontline experience offers a raw, unfiltered look at the reality of drone warfare and the desperate measures soldiers are taking to survive.

"I hate all drone ops"

Drones are everywhere. Ask any soldier on the front lines, and they’ll tell you the same thing—advancing through enemy lines has become a near-impossible task.

"I’d rather we had none on both sides, I hate all drone ops,” Fensom said. “For every benefit we gain by having drones, there is an equal amount of negatives. Of course, it’s the war we fight now, but it’s the main reason for the slow advances in both directions. The threat of drones effectively stops any realistic plans for taking land. It sucks ass."

The scale of drone warfare is staggering. Some areas are worse than others, but in certain hotspots like Zaporizhzhia and Poltava, the number of Russian drones in the air at any given time is overwhelming.

"Depends on the location,” he said. “But in places like Zaporizhzhia and Pokrovsk, you can expect anywhere from 100 to 200 drones a day between FPVs, Reconnaissance, and droppers."

The sheer volume of drones has forced soldiers to get creative. High-end solutions include Bukovel-AD, a vehicle-mounted jammer, and Shatro, the EW device that shields frontline units from attack drones. For mobile defense, soldiers use handheld EW guns like the EDM4S SkyWiper, which disrupts UAV communication and navigation but is limited by battery life and range. 

However, as technological advancements grow so do their countermeasures.

"We’ve found specifically that the Russians are learning to zero in on EW very quickly with artillery or dropper drones,” Fensom explains. “So we don’t usually broadcast EW constantly. We accept that the first drone will get to us, and then the EW will be booted up while we secure the area and get the shotgun battles in the air. Then it goes off, and we try to combat them with shotguns and rifles."

During patrols, shotguns are positioned in the center of the squad for rapid drone response. “They will either have their rifle on their back,” he says. “Or strapped to their pack for the duration of the patrol.” 

Close-range drone defense

Shotguns are a last-resort defense with a limited range, requiring soldiers to engage drones at the last moment. Rapidly descending FPV drones leave little time to react, making accuracy and split-second decisions critical. Unlike electronic warfare, shotguns require direct engagement, putting soldiers in high-risk situations.

"Most shotguns are only effective to a max of 50-60 meters if you’re good with it,” said Fensom. “There’s been a lot of testing done at the lower levels. We found specifically that using a 3.5 or 4-inch shell over a 3-inch shell increases its success rate dramatically. However, you can’t get 3.5 or 4-inch shells into most semi-auto or pump-action shotguns, and you have to use a double-barrel—so that in itself is a weigh-up you have to make.” With these limitations in mind, some shotguns have proven to be more effective than others.

"A lot of dudes are running with the bullpup shotguns,” he says. “They’re probably the best bet—compact, accurate, and can be fitted with a 10-shell magazine."

Mitigating the risks

The era of completely avoiding drones is over. Soldiers have come to terms with the reality that avoiding drone threats entirely is impossible. Instead, they work off risk mitigation rather than complete avoidance.

"There are a lot of situations where you have to weigh up the pros and cons,” says Fensom. “As a commander, you just have to mitigate the risk as best you can—using knowledge of the AO, previous experience, and the advice of local forces."

As drone warfare continues to evolve, so do the countermeasures. From shotguns to electronic warfare and tactical adjustments, frontline troops are constantly adapting.

Recently, Ukraine has acquired 4,000 Turkish Hatsan Escort BTS12 shotguns, while Russia has adapted Vepr-12 shotguns and GP-25 grenade launchers to fire 12-gauge rounds against drones. 

The US military is also exploring solutions—last year, the Marine Corps sought "buckshot-like" canister rounds for rifles and heavy weapons, while the Air Force has tested SkyNet Mi-5 shotgun shells, which deploy a net mid-air to entangle drone propellers. 

With drones dominating the battlefield, the race for effective countermeasures is far from over. But one thing is certain—drones have changed war forever.