Systematic Framework for Rapid Assessment of Emerging Technological Contamination: Bilateral Quantification of Fiber Optic Drone Cable Deployment in Ukraine-Russia War

Fiber optic drone operations in Ukraine represent an emerging technological contamination requiring systematic assessment. This study presents the first bilateral quantification framework for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination from fiber optic drone cable deployment, incorporating production data from both Ukrainian and Russian forces. Based on documented 2024-2025 deployment, we calculate bilateral material accumulation of 13,080 tonnes (±35% uncertainty) containing 523 tonnes of PFAS-bearing fluoropolymers distributed across approximately 50,000 km² operational areas. Ukrainian operations contributed 3,480 tonnes while Russian operations accounted for 9,600 tonnes based on Prince Vandal production exceeding 50,000 units monthly. Production-based estimates align with independent field assessments suggesting 4,176 tonnes, with the 3.1× difference primarily reflecting bilateral inclusion versus single-side field observations. Cable composition analysis confirms poly(methyl methacrylate) cores with fluoropolymer cladding exhibiting multi-century persistence timescales. Environmental degradation modeling projects potential annual microplastic generation of 130 tonnes (±50% uncertainty) through photo-oxidative and mechanical fragmentation. Field validation confirms wildlife impacts including documented avian entanglement and livestock cable ingestion. The assessment framework addresses methodological challenges specific to distributed technological contamination where traditional point-source protocols prove inadequate. Post-war bilateral field verification remains essential for validating production-based estimates and quantifying geographic distribution heterogeneity across former combat zones.