The Ukrainian military has initiated the integration of full-fledged robotic units into its frontline brigades, enhancing critical operations in its ongoing conflict against Russia. This development was announced by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on social media earlier this week. He shared an image of a domestically produced unmanned vehicle equipped with a mounted gun.
According to Umerov, Ukraine is ramping up the production of these systems and deploying full-fledged robotic units within combat brigades on the front lines. He noted that this deployment follows the successful completion of rigorous trials that began in the summer of 2024. Once fully integrated, these robotic units are expected to assist in a variety of missions, including offensive and defensive operations, logistical tasks, and the evacuation of wounded personnel.
The deployment of these robotic units is part of a broader strategy by Ukraine to enhance the use of unmanned ground systems, granting the nation a tactical advantage on the battlefield. This initiative aims to preserve the lives of soldiers stationed in critical frontline areas, as unmanned ground vehicles are designed to undertake hazardous missions, thereby reducing soldiers’ exposure to danger and improving their safety.
One such example of these unmanned vehicles is the four-wheeled FoxTac, an evacuation and logistics vehicle capable of transporting military equipment and injured personnel up to 700 meters (approximately 2,297 feet) from the battlefield. Umerov emphasized the transformation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into a modern army that holds a technological advantage over its adversaries. He pointed out that Ukrainian manufacturers are adapting their products to meet the demands of contemporary warfare.
In 2023, the Ukrainian government revealed an ambitious plan to establish an “Army of Robots,” with the goal of deploying tens of thousands of robotic vehicles to counter Russian forces. This strategy leverages the expertise of Ukraine’s defense industry in developing sophisticated unmanned platforms as a crucial component in winning the war. Recently, Ukraine tested about 100 domestically-built unmanned ground vehicles in various environments to support this initiative. The military has also authorized the use of several robotic platforms, including the logistics robot “Zmiy” and the robotic mini-tank “Lyut.”
