Future of war: Ukraine robots, drones replace infantry

The landscape of modern conflict is shifting as Ukrainian forces deploy ground robots to perform tasks once reserved for human infantry. In a milestone mission last summer, two Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian land robots and drones. Mykola Zinkevych, commander of the NC13 unit in the Third Separate Assault Brigade, confirmed the operation was the first time an enemy position was stormed and prisoners taken without direct infantry involvement. “The position was taken without a single shot being fired,” Zinkevych said, emphasising that technology must compensate for Ukraine’s lack of numerical advantage over Russia.

The goal for this year is to replace one-third of infantry roles with robotic systems. These land drones are remotely controlled vehicles on wheels or tracks, designed to be more durable and stealthy than traditional military vehicles. They can operate in harsh weather and carry heavy payloads, including machine guns. One such robot reportedly held off a Russian advance for 45 days, requiring only a battery recharge every two days.

On Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded the success of the military tech industry, stating robots and drones conducted over 22,000 missions in just three months. Zelenskyy said “lives were saved over 22,000 times” by sending machines into high-risk areas instead of soldiers, CNN reports.

Expert Robert Tollast from the Royal United Services Institute observed the advancements are fuelling a debate on the future of warfare. While he cautioned ground drones might struggle to hold territory without infantry support—similar to tanks—he highlighted their essential role in “casualty evacuation, dangerous resup­ply missions, and mine clearance”. In a war where aerial drone surveillance makes any movement near the front line almost deadly, the robotic systems have become critical. Tollast predicted even if Nato does not fight like Ukraine, the systems will find their way into other global forces.