Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday, April 13th, on the occasion of “Arms Makers’ Day,” that Ukraine’s military forces successfully captured a Russian-held position with “zero casualties” for the first time, relying solely on ground robots and drones without infantry involvement. This operation has the potential to reshape the future of warfare.
Zelenskyy took to the social platform X to state: “The future has arrived on the front lines, and Ukraine is shaping it. This is our ground robot system. In a first in the history of this war, an enemy position was completely taken by unmanned platforms (ground systems and drones).”
He further added: “The occupiers surrendered, and this operation was carried out with no infantry involvement and zero casualties on our side.”
This breakthrough signifies a shift for unmanned systems from a supporting role to a leading position on the battlefield.
According to official Ukrainian statistics, the usage of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) has seen explosive growth recently. In the first quarter of 2026, over 22,000 missions were completed, significantly higher than the less than 3,000 missions in November 2025. The number of military units actively using ground drones also increased from 67 in November 2025 to 167 in March 2026.
Zelenskyy emphasized that when robots replace soldiers in the most dangerous areas, it is akin to saving a life.
“This is high technology safeguarding the most important value – human life,” he said.
In terms of technological applications, the Ukrainian military has deployed systems with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in combat. For example, the “Droid TW-7.62” ground robot with automatic target detection and tracking capabilities successfully captured three Russian soldiers back in January.
Furthermore, various models of ground robots are currently in use at the front lines, including “Gnom-2,” “Ratel,” and “TerMIT,” performing tasks such as direct combat, logistical support, mine clearance, and evacuating casualties from the front lines.
In addition to advancements in ground systems, the Ukrainian defense industry has demonstrated strong capabilities in independent research and development. Ukraine can now produce millions of First-Person View (FPV) drones annually and has developed long-range missile weapons such as the “Flamingo,” “Ruta,” and “Palianytsia” for combat use.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine’s long-range drone strike range has reached 1,750 kilometers, and the “Sea Baby” and “Magura” unmanned vessels used in the Black Sea are defense products available for export.
Officials stated that ground drones can now replace about 30% of infantry tasks, a percentage that may increase to 80% in the future.
The Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces have destroyed over 24,000 enemy weapons within ten months, leading analysts to believe that the ongoing automation race on the battlefield is profoundly altering global military norms.