---
title: "Ukraine may return to light blackout due to new drones with optical navigation"
description: "The advisor to the Ukrainian president on defense technologies warned that due to the possible mass use of optical navigation on drones by Russia, the country may need to return to light blackout."
date: 2026-10-28T14:07:59.357Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-return-light-blackout-drones
tags: [ukraine, defense, drones, geran-5, lighting, russia]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukraine may return to light blackout due to new drones with optical navigation

![A black car driving on a wet rural road with headlights on at dusk](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/ukraine-light-masking-geran-5-susani/ukraine-light-masking-geran-5-susani-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Serhii Beskrestnov ("Flash") warned of a possible return to light blackout.
- The reason is cited as the possible mass deployment by Russia of "Susanin" optical navigation modules on "Geran-5" drones and other UAVs and missiles.
- Special attention, according to Beskrestnov, may be paid to the lighting of roads and highway sections.
- Earlier, "Flash" reported an attack by a new modification of the "Geran-5 K5-K" with an optical navigation system, greater range, speed, and flight altitude.

Ukraine may have to return to the practice of light blackout due to a new threat from Russia. According to RBC-Ukraine, this was stated in his Telegram channel by the President's Advisor on Defense Technologies Serhii Beskrestnov, known by the call sign "Flash". According to him, the risk is associated with the possible mass deployment by Russia of "Susanin" optical navigation modules on "Geran-5" drones and other UAVs and missiles, which may require a review of the lighting regime approaches in the country.

### From fear to conscious decision

"Flash" emphasized that while in 2022 lighting restrictions were introduced "out of fear and misunderstanding," now, in his assessment, Ukraine will likely have to act consciously. Thus, returning to light blackout, according to the advisor, is viewed not as a panic measure, but as a rational response to the changing nature of the threat, in which the enemy's ability to navigate in the dark using optical guidance systems plays a key role.

### Road lighting in focus

In particular, attention, according to Beskrestnov, should be paid to the lighting of roads and highway sections. These very objects, as a rule, form the most noticeable light landmarks at night and can be used in conjunction with optical navigation to increase target accuracy. This means that potential restrictions may affect not only residential areas, but also infrastructure critical for the daily movement of citizens.

### Context: "Geran-5 K5-K" and optical navigation

Earlier, "Flash" reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with a new modification of the "Geran-5" designated as "Geran-5 K5-K". According to him, this missile received an optical navigation system, as well as greater range, speed, and flight altitude. It is the appearance of such modifications, in the advisor's logic, that makes relevant the question of how the lighting situation on the ground affects the efficiency of optical guidance modules.

### What this means for citizens

At the moment, we are talking about a warning and an assessment of a potential scenario, rather than restrictions that have entered into force. Nevertheless, the statement indicates that the authorities may return to a practice familiar to Ukrainians from 2022 — including reducing the brightness of street lighting and restricting light sources on highways. For the population, this may mean the need to adapt again to darker streets and night trips if the threat spoken of by "Flash" is deemed sufficient to introduce appropriate measures.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Украина может вернуться к светомаскированию из-за новой угрозы со стороны РФ, - "Флэш"](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayina-mozhe-povernutisya-svitlomaskuvannya-1793189230.html) - Primary source: quote from Presidential Advisor on Defense Technologies Serhii Beskrestnov ("Flash") about a possible return to light blackout due to "Susanin" modules on "Geran-5" and mention of the "Geran-5 K5-K" modification. Projective statement, single source.

## FAQ

### Who announced the possible return to light blackout?

This was announced in his Telegram channel by the President's Advisor on Defense Technologies Serhii Beskrestnov, known by the call sign "Flash", as reported by RBC-Ukraine.

### What exactly might require a review of the lighting regime?

According to "Flash", the possible mass use by Russia of "Susanin" optical navigation modules on "Geran-5" drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.

### Which lighting objects were mentioned first?

In particular, the lighting of roads and highway sections.

### Have lighting restrictions already been introduced?

The statement refers to a warning and a potential need to review the approach, rather than measures that have entered into force.