UK bans game controller exports to Russia in bid to ground drone attacks

The British government is banning the export of video game controllers to Russia, claiming these can be repurposed for piloting drones on the frontline in Ukraine. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has implemented a new package of more than 150 new trade measures against Russia that came into force this …

[Anonymous Coward]

Bit bloody late

And likely to be ineffective.

If the government wanted to tighten sanctions on Russia effectively then they should put some resource into blocking sanction-evasion on Russia and Belarusian timber, which is a multi-billion euro sanction breach by laundering timber to get it into Europe. It's primarily birch, used in furniture, chipboard, and plywood, and there's credible estimates that suggest almost half of all birch used in Europe is likely Russian.

[elsergiovolador]

Re: Bit bloody late

The truth is government just fears that if they do something meaningful, Russia may send a couple of tourists wearing pungent perfumes to admire our architecture.

[sedregj]

Re: Bit bloody late

"admire our architecture."

Mmm Salisbury Cathedral.

Does anyone know how tall it is in metres. Us silly old Brits only understand feet and inches and they don't work in Russia.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Bit bloody late

It would be so easy to track this stuff too since much of it is slightly radioactive where some of it is sourced.

[elsergiovolador]

Re: Bit bloody late

Not by cheap meters...

[Lonpfrb]

Re: Bit bloody late

Unfortunately the Chernobyl radiation was evident as far north as Northern Finland that has 6% GDP from timber industry so radioactivity alone is not sufficient for sanction enforcement.

It seems that the hydrocarbon revenue of the terrorist state is a major contribution to funding their illegal invasion of Ukraine, so the economic crisis caused by tariff uncertainty has depressed the Urals Crude price below $50/bl in effect a sanction.

The main sanction evasion enablers india and CCP are dependent on trade with the free world so the most urgent for secondary Sanctions and effective enforcement.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Bit bloody late

Ah but it's ok to sanction Russia in a way that costs the UK taxpayer but not a big way that might wake up the taxpayers. So a little cut at a time is ok. But game controllers, really? It's a dumb war that was caused by clumsy moves by the West and US particularly whose narcissim led them to believe whatever they did Russia would not react. Or did they want the reaction? Leaders are 80% bad from any nation and wars make some people very rich.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like Russia already has a cheat code for this.

[Eclectic Man]

Drone control arms race

They are using new 'fly by wire' drones now, range of up to 20km, no radio comms, so can fly through radio blackspots, and are very difficult to detect:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/23/they-cannot-be-jammed-fibre-optic-drones-pose-new-threat-in-ukraine

"At a secret workshop in Ukraine’s north-east, where about 20 people assemble hundreds of FPV (first person view) drones, there is a new design. Under the frame of the familiar quadcopter is a cylinder, the size of a forearm. Coiled up inside is fibre optic cable, 10km (6 miles) or even 20km long, to create a wired kamikaze drone."

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

Yeah. Absolutely no drawbacks with those whatsoever.

Think about it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

Absolutely no drawbacks

The outer cladding of the fiber would want to be non reflective - those pictured in the Guardian article don't appear to be so coated.

I imagine the reflections from that fiber trailing behind an in-flight drone might be fairly easily detectable in the landscape with a powerful pulsed airborne laser.

Or clip a streamlined self propelled grenade on to the fiber and point it the direction of the drone's owner.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

Thing is the Russians have already used this system - and were absolutely hammered by Ukraine, who simply followed the fiber back to the dugout.

The Russians were *forced* to used fly by wire because the Ukraine jamming was so good.

The very first thing Britain did in WW1 was cut the undersea cables in the North sea forcing Germany to use radio. A tactic which proved invaluable in intelligence gathering.

[Jellied Eel]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

Thing is the Russians have already used this system - and were absolutely hammered by Ukraine, who simply followed the fiber back to the dugout.

That's one way of letting people know that you haven't got a clue what you're talking about. But find clue here-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MowWjVqhWaI

Which shows Patrick Lancaster being chased by a drone, and the vehicle he's in snagging some fibre from these types of drones. The fibre's <1mm in diameter, so good luck 'following the fibre back to the dugout', which for both sides should be behind the front line. But also why both sides have been using fibre-guided drones because no RF, no way to DF and drop artillery, missiles or bombs on the operators.

[CowHorseFrog]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

The Ukrainians have discovered a way of spotting the optical wires because they reflect light. THere are plenty of videos showing this on YT etc.

Good luck trying to pretend how superior Russia is, Russian eel.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

It's a discussion not a football match. Why be rude or even make blind assumptions?

[DancesWithPoultry]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

Because Jellied Eel is a well known (and frankly, an incompetent) Russian troll around these parts.

[CowHorseFrog]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

He often replies to many things people say including my own statement above, but he did not deny he is a Russian Eel.

[Jellied Eel]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

The Ukrainians have discovered a way of spotting the optical wires because they reflect light. THere are plenty of videos showing this on YT etc.

I gave an example of a video showing the actual fibre in use, and it doesn't look very reflective. I've also handled a LOT of fibre, and it isn't very reflective. It's also one of those things I've been curious about, ie what type of fibre is being used, and where that's coming from. My reasonably educated guess is it's probably the same fibre type used for blown fibre installations. That's available in large drums, ie 100km or more. It's also pretty strong given the application, and cladding tech is much better than the old PCF where the cladding would degrade pretty quickly.. Which isn't really an issue in this application, because the fibre links are only temporary.

It might also be plastic rather than glass fibre. That's sometimes used to flood-wire buildings because it was cheaper, but last time I looked, that was mostly for multi-mode optics. So unlikely given that has a much shorter range than single-mode fibre. So they're probably using SMF and standard optronics, especially given the claimed <10km range.. But it would also be possible to extend the range to <40km by swapping the optics for LH versions. Power consumption isn't that much higher, but the mass of the cable spool in the drone obviously would be. But then just use it on a bigger drone.

I also think a neat application of this would be to rig up battlefield comms quickly, and more safely than a scaley back with a cable spool. Fly drone to your outpost, unplug spool from drone and plug it into your 'radio'. 10Gbps Ethernet to your trench and no need for seperate Tx & Rx fibres because single-fibre working is a thing. Hopefully something the good folks at Blandford are doing, or have already done.

But I'm sure you can cite videos showing how cobwebs are detected and followed by ISR drones flying at maybe 100m or more..

(also curious what the environmental/ecological impacts of having a lot of non-biodegradable fibre strewn across battlefields would be. But somewhat less than the impact of a FAB-3000. Another Patrick Lancaster video also showed Russians rigging netting over roads into Sudhza as a low-tech anti-drone solution.)

[CowHorseFrog]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

eel: I gave an example of a video showing the actual fibre in use, and it doesn't look very reflective. I've also handled a LOT of fibre, and it isn't very reflective.

cow: You are not an optical expert but an average person with minimal knowledge on this topic.

Secondly the viewpoint in the video is only one of many, different viewpoints with and without hte sun, whether its overcast or a clear day there are many factors and these contribute to a different way the world is visible to th ehuman eye or digtal equipment.

In WW2 pilots discovered this for example and were known to dive with the sun at their back because it helped "hide" them. Life is a bit more complicated than just guessing that you know it all.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

There's always a counter measure, which is why it's about money and manufacturing capability. Get your new weapon out, deployed and in use while the enemy runs to catch up, then move on to the next.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

I'll bet those damn Ruskies have already planned to do that to us if EU and UK decide to stupidly attack Russia. Wonder how the economies will go then. Back to dig for victory and hand in your aluminium!

[CowHorseFrog]

Re: 'fly by wire' drones

Its amazing how people cant think for themselves and understand what you havent said.

[Anonymous Coward]

PMSL

Because the UK is known for being the world's largest manufacturer of game controllers?

Are they also going to ban export of ice to Siberia?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: PMSL

Kempston would be very unhappy with your comment if they didn't stop trading in 1993.

['bluey]

Re: PMSL

Damn, still remember my delight and pride when I got my first Kempston controller..

[ZX8301]

Re: PMSL

Kempston made interfaces in the UK, but their joysticks were imported. Konix did make controllers in Wales for a few years, though Winn Holloway deliberately chose a ‘Japanese sounding’ brand for them. And the ambitious Slipstream did for them, though it did eventually spawn Atari’s UK-designed and developed Jaguar console.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: PMSL

Interesting history lesson.

[elsergiovolador]

Re: PMSL

They'll ban export of vodka next. That will show them!

[Clausewitz4.1]

Re: PMSL

They'll ban export of vodka next. That will show them!

That is truly terrifying.

[JWLong]

Talk about......

Busy work for politicals.

Doctor Feelgood at best.

Are they going to restrict 3D printers to stop printing drones?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Talk about......

"Are they going to restrict 3D printers to stop printing drones?"

No, that's already covered in the Online Safety Act. In the Appendix applicable to Russia.

Thankfully, someone thought of the children. Not UK children though - the politicians are hell bent on screwing their futures at every available opportunity.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Talk about......

You are so right

[Anonymous Coward]

...but if the warmongers in Moscow are determined to get their hands on them

they can simply ask their allies in any of the 150 countries that don't have sanctions against Russia.

TFTFY

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: ...but if the warmongers in Moscow are determined to get their hands on them

Sanctions won't be in place for much longer. The fat orange retard is bullying Ukraine into defeat, looks like that is coming to a head. When that's been achieved he'll unilaterally lift all US sanctions on Russia. The UK and the EU will then follow suit pretty quickly, partly because they don't want to anger Krasnov, largely for fear of missing out in economic terms.

German businesses can't wait to be able to sell stuff in Russia again, British banks can't wait to launder stolen Russian money again, and most of Southern Europe can't wait to welcome back Russian tourists. France aren't in such a hurry. But not through any sense of morality, it's just they've been busily buying Russian LNG, fertilizer and uranium all along.

[martinusher]

Re: ...but if the warmongers in Moscow are determined to get their hands on them

The Ukraine was defeated in the 1990s. That's when wise heads in Western Europe decided that it was OK to break up Yugoslavia, not just allowing but encouraging the break up of a country into separate states. The justification for this was historical, ethnic, religious, whatever but really was really more about breaking up an "Eastern" state, especially one that used Cyrllic writing. Anyway, having set the precedent we shouldn't be too surprised if parts of Ukraine that were never historically aligned with Western Europe decided they'd rather be Russian than Polish. Forcing the issue ("Maidan") resulted in a standoff in Crimea and a nasty little civil war in Donbas. Attempts to fix the problem ("Minsk") by the peoples involved were shut down by our Western Cold Warriors leading to the present situation.

Obviously our leaders don't read history books or they would have known better.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: ...but if the warmongers in Moscow are determined to get their hands on them

Good to know someone else is aware of the history but you'll get loads of down votes, some abuse, some ignorant remarks or ignored because it doesn't fit with BBC (state) propaganda and this is Britain, our leaders and the Beeb would never deceive us ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: ...but if the warmongers in Moscow are determined to get their hands on them

Well you got half right.

Russia is no longer our natural enemy but the evil gits who run things need bogeymen to promote war from which they profit.

Correct; businesses will be eager to profit from Russian money and resources which is probably why the evil gits created the war because they thought they could get the resources cheaper whilst boosting arms company profits by giving them more taxpayer money. The orange "retard" who probably works for them anyway has correctly identified that China will suck up all their money and does not want Russia tight with China as they would additionally be able to effectively counter US global hegemony. Or maybe they just didn't want the forever war to end because it keeps the people's minds distracted.

[Anonymous Coward]

They do know…

It’s the drone part that explodes and not the controller.

Don’t they?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: They do know…

It’s the drone part that explodes and not the controller.

Subsidise the controllers and arrange it so it's the other way around.

Always more aircraft than skilled pilots.

[Jellied Eel]

Re: They do know…

It’s the drone part that explodes and not the controller.

The UK's Q-branch seems to have dumbed down. Wasn't there something about exploding pagers recently?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: They do know…

Wasn't there something about exploding pagers recently?

That was in Lebanon and Mossad art-work if I am not mistaken.

Checking all my new electronics ultimately against small charges of RDX or C4, just in case.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: They do know…

"The UK's Q-branch seems to have dumbed down. Wasn't there something about exploding pagers recently?"

Too much DEI, the department is running around arguing about which toilets they should be able to use.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: They do know…

Might have been a better tactic to identify the controllers being shipped to Russia (if any) and doing an Israel on them by adding explosive.

[CowHorseFrog]

The British government should be jailing all the corporate types like BP that invested and built up the oil industry in Russia.

[Lonpfrb]

That was done before 2022 invasion and the orcs were left to fail to maintain soon after.

Thus the Strategic brilliance of AFU to destroy hydrocarbon infrastructure knowing that both parts and skilled installers are not available to fix them.

No fuel means no trucks or tanks. Donkeys and golf carts now..

[CowHorseFrog]

Putin has been talking about retaking old Soviet lands since the beginning of his reign.

Putin can be read like a book, he big agenda for Russia has always been known. Its like how Hitler wrote the story of his story WW2, in Mein Kempf. Donald also promised to execute his Tariff policy before the election.

Dictators for some strange reason often tell you what their big destructive plans are in advance, the problem is people dont listen. Putin is a dictator and he isnt original in this, just like Donald is trying to be a dictator. THey all act the same way, imaginary enemies, lots of flags, militarism, imaginary racist enemies and more.

[AmigaE]

What ?

How much do these idiots get paid to make decisions on subjects they clearly have no grasp on ?

[CowHorseFrog]

Re: What ?

You just summarised the story of the american ceo

[Anonymous Coward]

How stupid can you get?

I have never heard anything so stupid and pointless. We are irrelevant as game controller supplier.