Ukrainian ground robots and drones have successfully bypassed Russian military positions and forced enemy soldiers to surrender, according to claims by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy accompanied his statement with a promotional video showing the deployment of these technologies. He noted that Ukraine's military robots completed more than 22,000 missions in the last three months, according to arstechnica.com.
This surge in uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) use follows a period of rapid expansion. The Ukrainian defense ministry reported a threefold increase in UGV missions over the last five months, with over 9,000 robotic missions conducted in March alone, the outlet reported.
Expanding robotic presence
While the specific recent event mentioned by Zelenskyy lacks independent verification, the claim aligns with documented combat tactics. The Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade previously detailed using flying drones and "kamikaze" ground robots to strike fortified Russian frontline positions in the Kharkiv Oblast.
That unit described Russian soldiers surrendering to a robot after abandoning battered fortifications. Similar footage of Russian troops surrendering to drones or small robotic units has surfaced in previous combat recordings.
These developments suggest a shift in battlefield reliance. The growing ground-based robotic presence marks a new trend in a conflict that has long been defined by aerial drone usage, arstechnica.com noted.
Government-run platform United24 also featured videos of these robotic exploits. The footage depicted similar or identical incidents involving the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade's use of automated hardware.
