@deegeese@sopuli.xyz
According to the original telegram source, it is for defense:

Захист мавіку від ворожих сіткометів та ударів зверху

deepl.com:

Protecting the mavic from enemy net-squads and overhead attacks

Makes no sense against shrapnel, but they are using a lot of different interception techniques. I've seen physical impact, nets and dangling wires so far. And against these type of attacks such a cope cage style defense might actually work.