Robots Instead of Soldiers: Ukraine Is Changing Its Approach to War
Ukraine is actively deploying robotic systems on the front lines and is already conducting operations without infantry involvement. Drones and ground robots are storming enemy positions and taking prisoners. Military officials say this is a way to save lives and compensate for a shortage of personnel. CNN reports on this.
Ukraine is increasingly relying on robotic technologies in the war against Russia. This includes not only aerial drones but also ground-based unmanned platforms that are already carrying out combat missions in place of humans.
According to Mykola Zinkevych, commander of the “NC13” unit of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, whose call sign is “Makar,” a unique operation took place last summer. At that time, Ukrainian forces were able to storm an enemy position and take prisoners without the involvement of infantry—using only drones and ground robots. “We must understand that we will never have more personnel and will never have a numerical advantage over the enemy. Therefore, we need to achieve this advantage through technology,” the soldier explained.
Ground drones have already become a common tool for Ukrainian units. One such robot, equipped with a machine gun, was able to repel Russian attacks for 45 days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed the scale of new technology deployment. According to him, in just the last three months, drones have carried out over 22,000 missions. “Lives were saved over 22,000 times when a robot entered the most dangerous zones instead of a soldier,” the president stated.
The Ministry of Defense is promoting a new strategy for developing such technologies. It involves creating a so-called “destruction zone” 15–20 kilometers deep along the front line. The idea is to automate logistics and combat missions as much as possible.
Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who previously worked on digital projects, has also joined the development of this strategy. The ministry believes that the future of warfare lies in technologies that minimize human involvement in the most dangerous areas.
However, even against the backdrop of such changes, the military remains cautious about full automation and the use of artificial intelligence in combat decision-making. “The final decision must always be made by a human. Would you entrust weapons to artificial intelligence? How can we be sure it will be able to distinguish friend from foe?” Zinkevych noted.
Despite these reservations, the general direction of development is clear. The Ukrainian military is increasingly relying on technology wherever possible. “Human life is priceless, whereas robots don’t bleed,” the commander concluded.
Claims of a partial encirclement of Sumy or a critical deterioration of the situation in the region do not correspond to reality and are not supported by the map of combat operations. This was officially announced by Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Operation, commenting on alarming reports that began circulating online.
Over the past few days, the Russian army has carried out several platoon-level assaults in three regions of Ukraine. However, these attacks are unlikely to significantly affect the course of the occupiers’ spring-summer offensive in 2026.
