Video: Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers deployed ground robots from Griffon bombers behind enemy lines for the first time

The Third Army Corps employed the tactic of airdropping ground-based robotic systems (GRS) from “Griffon” heavy bombers for the first time. During Operation “Vivaldi,” Russian troops attacked kamikaze RGCs that had been delivered more than 10 kilometers behind enemy lines.

The commander of the NC13 ground attack complex unit, part of the Third Separate Assault Brigade of the Third Army Corps, with the call sign “Makar,” said that the troops have been using the system for dropping UAVs from drones for about four to five months.

 

According to him, prior to this, no unit in the world had ever airdropped ground robots or systematically employed such tactics on the battlefield.

The tactic is used as part of sabotage operations aimed at eliminating Russian troops deep behind enemy lines and in shelters, capturing enemy pilots, and disrupting logistics.

Ground-based robotic systems have already been used to capture prisoners, as well as to hold positions for 45 days while mounted with a machine gun.

According to “Makar,” developing the system took a significant amount of time. The soldiers had to determine how to mount the URC to the drone, how the device would behave during flight, what ammunition to equip it with, how to maintain communication and plan missions, and how to conceal the direction of the attack from the enemy.

The NC13 fighters conducted their first operation to deploy ground-based robotic systems in conjunction with the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the Third Assault Brigade.

The pilots delivered and deployed two robots approximately 15 kilometers from the front line.

The deployment itself was successful, but the unit chose an inopportune time to carry out the mission. Russian troops spotted the movement and opened fire, resulting in the destruction of both vehicles.

That same day, the soldiers repeated the operation and dropped two more UAVs in the same area, having learned from the mistakes of their first attempt.

The second group of robots managed to reach the designated target—a staging area where Russian troops were stopping to regroup and rest—and destroy it.

According to “Makar,” the success of the second attempt allowed the unit to systematize its approach and move on to the regular use of this tactic at distances of up to 15 kilometers behind enemy lines.

The unit had arrived at the very concept of deploying NRCs as early as November 2025, when it reached the level of a strike brigade equipped with ground-based robotic systems. At that time, the commander tasked engineers with developing a device adapted for transport and deployment from a drone.

According to the NC13 commander, the success rate of RCS deployment operations is approximately 80 percent. He attributes this to coordination among all units involved—from the workshop and planning team to the operators on duty.

In addition to carrying out specific combat missions, the robotic systems are also used for “free hunting” along the logistics routes of Russian troops.

“Makar” reported that during one operation, a single UAV neutralized two Russian soldiers and wounded four others.

According to the unit’s observations, such attacks can cause panic among Russian troops. In particular, the Russian command is forced to ban movement along certain routes and put positions on full combat alert.

In one instance, according to “Makar,” the elimination of a single Russian soldier by a ground robot led to the cancellation of a planned mechanized assault.

The commander of NC13 also called on the commanders of other battalions and brigades to develop the use of ground-based robotic systems. According to him, the use of robotics helps save the lives of Ukrainian servicemen.

The name of the bombers is derived from the call sign of NC13 machine gunner Hryhorii Bakh—“Griffon.” He went missing in action during the battles for Andriivka in 2023, when the unit was still an assault platoon within the 2nd Assault Battalion.

According to “Makar,” every operation is a way to honor a fallen or missing comrade and seek revenge on his behalf.

This was reported by the Third Army Corps’ Telegram channel.

In Russia, on the night of September 24–25, the Iskra plant in Ulyanovsk and the Perm oil refinery were struck. 

On the night of September 25, explosions were heard in the Krasnodar Krai, as well as in the Rostov and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation. In the Rostov region, the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery was likely attacked.