WARTORN Ukraine is teaching Britain how to tackle the drone crisis facing the country’s prisons, The Sun can reveal.
Deputy PM and Justice Secretary has been in Ukraine to see their cutting edge anti-drone measures developed whilst fighting off an army of automated devices sent by the Kremlin.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has visited Ukraine to observe the country’s anti-drone measuresCredit: PA
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to use the technology to prevent fatal attacksCredit: AFP
army have become world experts in how to use the devices as deadly weapons and how to protect citizens from fatal attacks.
Jails in the UK face a similar nightly onslaught of drones – providing criminals with drugs and weapons .
Recent reports have shown how the country’s prisons are failing to tackle the crisis which is destabilising what should be secure environments.
The latest stats show there were at least 1,712 drone incidents between April 2024 and March 2025 at prisons across England and Wales.
The number of incidents at prisons involving drones skyrocketed by 770 per cent between 2019 and 2023, with the devices increasingly being used by organised to smuggle contraband and fuel violence behind bars.
A new security drive in UK prisons will see the Government applying battle-tested tactics used against drone attacks.
The UK has provided assistance to ensure Ukraine is at the forefront of drone and counter drone technology, giving a record £350 million in 2025 to bolster their supply of drones from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 by the end of December 2025.
The announcement comes ahead of Lammy meeting with President Zelenskyy and Deputy Defence Minister Yurii Myronenko at an international conference in , to mark the first anniversary of the UK Government’s 100-Year Partnership with Ukraine.
UK Research and Innovation has announced an additional £6.5 million to help accelerate anti-drone research and development.
It involves new technology which can be used by prison staff to detect and bring down drones.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “Ukraine’s uniquely advanced and battle-tested anti-drone technology will help up us tackle the challenges we face at home.
“I’ve tasked British prisons with learning from Ukraine’s drone expertise. We know prison drones pose a direct threat to national security and that’s why we’re acting decisively to tackle these gangs by investing millions in security and cutting-edge technology.
“This is yet another prime example of how our work abroad is benefitting people at home.”
Tech businesses from the UK and Ukraine will be able to pitch solutions to the Government as part of a new competition.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor has warned that drones used by criminal gangs are so accurate that they can deliver drugs and weapons such as zombie knives directly to specific windows.
There are fears that unless the prison estate cracks down on the , a prisoner could theoretically escape by drone in the coming years.
App What3words is being used by gangs to pinpoint drop off locations to the nearest three metre square.
Other packages are being dropped and disguised as grass cuttings in overgrown parts of prison estates.
Mr Lammy believes Ukraine’s sophisticated anti-drone technology could benefit the UKCredit: AFP 
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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