Ukrainian forces claim to have achieved a primary in warfare – taking control of Russian troop positions using only drones and ground-based robotic systems.
In an announcement, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation marked the primary time within the war that an enemy position had been captured entirely by unmanned platforms.
‘For the primary time within the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned systems – UGVs and drones,’ he said.
‘The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry involvement and without losses on our side.’
Zelensky said using such technology reflects a broader effort to cut back risks to personnel in high-threat areas. He added that a variety of robotic systems had carried out greater than 22,000 missions over the past three months.
“In other words, lives were saved greater than 22,000 times – a robot entered probably the most dangerous areas as a substitute of a soldier,” he said. “That is about high technology in defence of the very best value – human life.’
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The event comes amid a wider increase in using unmanned systems by Ukraine’s armed forces.
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently reported a pointy rise of their deployment, with robotic units carrying out 50% more tasks in March than within the previous month.
The variety of units employing such systems has also increased significantly, rising from 67 in late 2025 to 167 by spring 2026, as Ukraine continues to expand its use of unmanned platforms in frontline operations.
Among the many machines deployed include the Droid TW-7.62, a reconnaissance and strike unmanned ground system designed to hold a KT-7.62 machine gun.
The platform features a ballistic computer intended to enhance accuracy and incorporates elements of artificial intelligence able to detecting, tracking and interesting targets.
In January 2026, DevDroid said a Droid TW-7.62 mounted on the NUMO robotic platform captured three Russian soldiers during a separate operation.
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