Long-range drones will patrol the forests of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      On March 24, 2026, at 17:46 Society In the Nizhny Novgorod region, groups of unmanned aerial vehicles are being formed for the first time to protect forests from fires. They will operate based on three long-range drone control complexes. The project has been implemented with financial support from the regional government using computer vision technologies developed by Nizhny Novgorod specialists in collaboration with the regional Ministry of Forestry. The Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Secretary of the regional branch of the "United Russia" party, Gleb Nikitin, noted that the region is one of the leaders in the Volga Federal District in the implementation of unmanned aviation in forestry. Modern technologies allow for the detection of fires in hard-to-reach areas within seconds, predicting the spread of fire, and timely preventing fires. "This system will allow for the fastest possible response to any potential threats and effectively patrol forest areas," he emphasized. The Ministry of Forestry explained that each control complex consists of a vehicle equipped with modern communication equipment, navigation tools, and an integrated computer vision system. It also includes a long-range UAV capable of recognizing potentially fire-hazardous objects over a large area. The head of the relevant ministry, Roman Vorobyov, reported that during the fire hazard season of 2025, the hardware and software complex for video monitoring of forest fires successfully passed pilot testing. Based on the results of the tests, directions for improving the technology were identified, and a foundation was prepared for its large-scale implementation. The regulatory documentation for the use of unmanned aerial systems is currently being finalized, and the groups will begin work at the start of the fire hazard season. Earlier, the region's experience in using drones and video monitoring was presented at the final meeting of the forestry agencies of the Volga Federal District. Each group of unmanned aviation will consist of three specialists: a group leader - a leading engineer, an operator-assistant, and a driver of the mobile control point. The units will be based at institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Forestry: two groups will operate in the area of responsibility of the Nizhny Novgorod Forest Fire Center, and the third will be in the territory of the Vyksa Forestry. Special attention will be paid to the forests of the Borsky, Voskresensky, Mikhailovsky, and Vyksa forestry districts, where an increased risk of fires is traditionally recorded. The agency emphasized that improving the effectiveness of forest fire protection is one of the key areas of the federal project "Forest Conservation" within the national project "Ecological Well-Being." Earlier, within the framework of the national project "Unmanned Aerial Systems," 32 drones were purchased for monitoring forest fires in the region. In total, 82 drones are used for forest protection in the Nizhny Novgorod region. It is also worth noting that a plan for extinguishing forest fires has been approved in the Nizhny Novgorod region. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+