Ukraine deploys robotic ground vehicles on the front lines

The Ukrainian military is increasingly integrating unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to offset numerical disadvantages and protect soldiers on the front lines. In workshops along the 1,200-kilometer combat zone, units such as the NC13 are developing and preparing robotic forces for deployment.

One specific model, known as ‘Hienas’, consists of four-wheeled unmanned vehicles designed to carry explosive payloads to attack enemy positions or halt infantry advances. These robots have reportedly been used to capture Russian soldiers. Military personnel, including a mechanic codenamed ‘Chimera’, note that even small payloads of 20 kg of explosives provide significant combat power.

Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi of the Third Army Corps described this shift toward robotic integration as a ‘revolution’ in warfare. As the battlefield becomes increasingly saturated with drones, the use of UGVs aims to conduct ‘smarter’ warfare by replacing infantry in high-risk roles. Most Ukrainian brigades are now expanding their unmanned systems to include these ground-based robotic units.