Ukraine’s land robots are revolutionising the shapeshifting war with Russia

Key Points:

• Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade reportedly regained territory using only unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and drones, marking a first in the conflict and eliminating infantry casualties in that operation.
• Ukrainian commanders aim to replace about 30% of infantry with UGVs to reduce troop losses, assigning robots the most dangerous tasks while infantry focuses on specialized roles.
• UGVs have significantly enhanced battlefield logistics by transporting heavy supplies, evacuating wounded, holding positions, and conducting strike and sabotage missions, with over 100 strike operations carried out recently.
• The TW12.7 UGV, equipped with a Browning machine gun and produced by Ukrainian company DevDroid, has been pivotal in frontline defense, with one unit reportedly holding a position for six weeks autonomously.
• Experts caution that remote operation of lethal robots may lower thresholds for using force and pose risks to civilians, but acknowledge Ukraine’s development of UGV tactics is driven by necessity and enhances its self-reliance and export potential.