Irrespective of how the war in Ukraine ends, it will always be remembered as one of the greatest battle laboratories in the history of warfare in testing new systems in general and unmanned systems in particular.
The war has already seen how Ukraine created history by beginning to use cheap drones devastatingly against Russia’s highly expensive fighter planes and ships. That Russia subsequently caught up in this race of using such aerial systems is a different story.
And now that the war is entering its fourth year, Ukraine is said to be leading what Anatolii Mazarchuk, a Ukrainian Fulbright scholar and AI researcher at Stevens Institute of Technology, says to be “a second revolution: the mass introduction and adaptation of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) for frontline operations.”
In fact, military elites worldwide seem to be closely watching Ukraine’s testing of the UGV as “the next disruptive element,” and proving that ‘robotic ground systems are not just support tools — they are becoming indispensable battlefield assets.”
They do admit that Ukraine is showing the way in this field.
Ukrainians hope that their country’s growing arsenal of robotic systems can help counter Russia’s often overwhelming advantages in both manpower and firepower.
“We foresee a future in which this [logistics] function becomes entirely robotic. The current demand suggests a need for hundreds of thousands of such systems. The widespread integration of ground drones also paves the way for advanced modules, including those for minelaying, demining, and direct fire support when paired with turret-based weapon systems,” Mazarchuk added in a press interview.
Remotely operated, UGVs are essentially ground-based robots built to perform military tasks without putting soldiers at direct risk.
They come in various shapes and sizes, from small tracked carriers to heavier, armored platforms. Most are modular, meaning they can be fitted with tools, sensors, weapons, or medical gear depending on the mission.
While they do not operate independently, UGVs extend what troops can do on the battlefield by acting as mobile helpers and force multipliers in high-risk zones.
Some models are armed with light machine guns or explosive payloads. Others carry ammunition, food, or water through exposed terrain where human troops would be at high risk.
Ukrainian UGVs are already rolling around the front lines, with their 3rd Assault Brigade among the pioneers. Reportedly, last Spring, Ukraine announced plans to deploy 15,000 ground robots.
There are currently about 40 mostly private Ukrainian firms producing some 200 UGV models. They fall into three tribes: logistics (petrol, water, evacuation); engineering support (mine-laying, mine-sweeping, communications); and, to a lesser extent, combat-support roles (platforms with grenade launchers, drone-hunting turrets).
Incidentally, to support long-term use and development of all types of drones, Ukraine had created the Unmanned Systems Forces in early 2024. This new service integrates drones and robots across the military, standardizing training and battlefield use based on frontline feedback.
As part of this push, in April this year, the government held “the Brave‑1 trial”, where more than 70 UGVs from 50 Ukrainian manufacturers were tested under combat-like conditions.
The tests focused on load capacity, mobility, resistance to jamming, and how well the machines could support troops on the ground.
Reportedly, over 200 Ukrainian companies are working on UGVs. To keep up with demand, the government is simplifying production rules and accelerating certification.
According to Hlib Kanevskyi, Director of Procurement at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Ukraine plans to deliver 15,000 ground robots for combat use by the end of 2025.
Most UGVs are beefed up before being deployed to front-line roles, with brigades typically adding cameras, extra comms, or electronic-warfare protection. They are substituting for squads of soldiers in particular scenarios.
“Mule” drones can transport tonnes of material to the lines. New evacuation drones like the “Ardal” can spare stretcher teams from becoming sitting ducks under drone-heavy skies.
And there are the latest mine-layers that are capable of laying dozens of anti-tank mines in a single run, a task that once required sappers to be sent out, over and over again.
Then there is one called Hyzhak (“Predator”) that uses artificial intelligence to identify and shoot drones out of the sky from 200 meters away.
In this category is the Liut system, which is equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun. It can identify and engage targets day and night, and its quiet electric motor and rugged build allow it to operate across challenging terrain and in harsh weather. In July, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) released a video of one in action.
Another Ukrainian UGV, called “Termit,” can carry up to 300 kilograms and operate on various terrains thanks to its low-profile, tracked design and improved weight distribution.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Termit drones can be equipped with combat modules, used for medical evacuations, or for transporting specialized equipment as needed.
Equipped with a large-caliber machine gun, there is yet another, which is catchily-titled D-21-12R. It is said to be capable of conducting surveillance, patrolling, providing fire support to the Ukrainian military, and targeting Russian lightly armored vehicles.
It has high cross-country ability in off-road terrain, mud, and shallow water, and can be operated remotely from a protected shelter.
“Murakha” is another tracked robotic platform designed to support front-line units working under challenging conditions, such as under enemy artillery and in heavily mined terrain.Its larger size makes it one of Ukraine’s leading UGVs in terms of load capacity.
The Murakha can reportedly carry over half a ton of weight across dozens of kilometers. It can also cross difficult terrain and shallow water. According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, the Murakha’s multiple control channels allow it to function successfully even in areas of the battlefield where Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems are operating.
Besides, among the models that Ukrainian companies are currently developing, the most talked about are the promising “Cockroach” (a small, wheeled, disposable robot capable of carrying explosives) and the “Ratel H” (large enough to perform casualty evacuations).
However, all told, the UGVs are an evolving phenomenon. It is not that Ukraine alone is doing a lot of work in this field; almost all major military powers are investing in this program/field. The reality is that significantly more work and iteration are needed to achieve perfection, as was the case with the aerial drones.
The challenges involved here include its feature of autonomy. After all, these machines still require a person or soldier to control them remotely from a relatively short distance. That means manpower remains important, something Ukraine is acutely short of.
Of course, work is in progress for remote control from a long distance through satellite communications. But here too, apart from the question of assured and uninterrupted connectivity, there are cybersecurity risks. A hacked robot on the battlefield could spell disaster faster than one could imagine.
Be that as it may, at the moment, when one talks of the Ukraine war, experts do agree that Ukraine is winning in the UGV race with Russia.
As with aerial drones, Russia may one day catch up or even surpass others in developing more powerful UGVs, thanks to its superior industrial ecosystems for copying, standardizing, and scaling. But that is for the future.
- Author and veteran journalist Prakash Nanda is Chairman of the Editorial Board of the EurAsian Times and has been commenting on politics, foreign policy, and strategic affairs for nearly three decades. He is a former National Fellow of the Indian Council for Historical Research and a recipient of the Seoul Peace Prize Scholarship.
- CONTACT: prakash.nanda (at) hotmail.com
