EXCLUSIVE: Are Robots Replacing Soldiers in Ukraine War? What’s Really Happening on the Front Line

Ukrainian troops say ground robots are rapidly expanding on the front line to deliver supplies and evacuate wounded, reducing risks for soldiers but not replacing them. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A screenshot from a video provided by the Khartiia Brigade exclusively to Kyiv Post shows a ground robot being prepared for a mission. (Image by the 13th Brigade of the National Guard) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google As videos of ground robots moving across Ukraine’s front line spread widely online, a narrative has taken hold in international media and social platforms: that Ukraine is replacing soldiers with machines . The reality, is more nuanced and far less futuristic. Ukraine is rapidly expanding the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), known locally as NRKs, but primarily as a way to reduce casualties and support troops, not replace them. The shift reflects both necessity and adaptation after more than two years of high-intensity war with Russia. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . These systems are increasingly used for logistics, evacuation and, in some cases, combat support — tasks that would otherwise expose soldiers to extreme risk. Exclusive video from the Khartiia Brigade for Kyiv Post shows ground robots being loaded with food, water and ammunition ahead of a mission. A senior operator of ground robotic systems from the 13th Brigade of the National Guard Khartiia , call sign “Gurni,” told Kyiv Post that the scale of such missions has grown sharply in recent months. He said the number of completed UGV missions has been rising month by month, with around 9,000 missions carried out in the previous month compared to roughly 6,000 just three months earlier. He added that the number of units reporting the use of these systems has expanded significantly, from about 50 units late last year to more than 150 across Ukraine’s Defense Forces today. The growth reflects both demand and increasing battlefield risks for infantry soldiers, he said. Other Topics of Interest Defense Adviser Shows Home Destroyed in Russian Drone Strike A Ukrainian defense adviser said he lost his home and possessions after a Russian drone hit his residence during an overnight attack. Exclusive video from the Khartiia Brigade for Kyiv Post shows ground robots being loaded with food, water and ammunition ahead of a mission. Much of the work performed by these robots remains logistical. Gurni said his battalion alone had completed more than 80 missions in roughly two-thirds of the current month, delivering over 25 tons of supplies, including food, ammunition, water and equipment, to frontline positions. “These are all the essential items that keep positions functioning,” he said, noting that robots also transport damaged equipment back from the front for repairs. UGVs are also being used in evacuation missions. Gurni said his unit had evacuated more than 15 wounded soldiers from frontline positions, often under difficult weather conditions. These UGVs are designed to reduce the risk of detection and attack by Russian drones. He explained that even purely logistical missions can save lives, as they replace tasks that would otherwise require soldiers to move on foot under fire. Large aerial drones cannot carry heavy equipment such as mortars, he said, making ground robots essential for transporting bulk supplies. Exclusive video from the Khartiia Brigade for Kyiv Post shows ground robots being loaded with food, water and ammunition ahead of a mission. As the technology develops, some units are also adapting UGVs for combat roles. These include remotely operated platforms equipped with machine guns or used in strike missions, although such use remains more limited compared to logistics. Gurni said units are often given flexibility to propose robotic alternatives to high-risk missions, particularly when they can achieve the same objective more efficiently and with fewer losses. However, decisions on whether to deploy personnel or machines ultimately depend on commanders and operational planning at higher levels. He also said the Ukrainian state is actively encouraging the expansion of robotic systems, including through incentive mechanisms that reward units for completing logistical and evacuation missions using UGVs. Similar incentives may be introduced for combat use as the technology evolves. The central goal, he said, is clear: reducing casualties. “It is far better to send a robot on a mission,” Gurni said. “If it is destroyed, you lose equipment. But if you send two or three soldiers and they are killed, it is a much greater loss, both emotionally and for the unit’s combat capability.” Exclusive video from the Khartiia Brigade for Kyiv Post shows ground robots being loaded with food, water and ammunition ahead of a mission. “Our defense units involved in counter-sabotage operations are doing their utmost to devise new mechanisms and methods that other units haven’t yet come up with. There’s even a bit of friendly competition here – it’s all about who can be the first to pull it off.” They are also relatively inexpensive by military standards – around Hr.300,000 (about $6,800-7,000) per unit, including control systems. But their lifespan reflects the realities of war. Despite rapid development, Ukrainian troops stress that robots are unlikely to replace soldiers entirely anytime soon. Gurni said a fully automated battlefield, where machines operate independently in a unified system, remains a distant possibility requiring major technological advances. For now, human presence on the battlefield remains essential. “Without infantry, without human involvement, it will not be possible,” he said. “Technology can be deceived. A human cannot be fully replaced. Where there is no infantry, it is not yet our territory.” “This will be possible in the fairly distant future, when all robotic systems and UAV systems are integrated into a single framework, which will be controlled by a unified architecture featuring [identification] friend-or-foe [IFF] recognition, movement matrices, and mission execution matrices.” Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has faced a battlefield dominated by artillery, drones and surveillance, making movement on the front line increasingly dangerous. This has accelerated the development of unmanned systems, including aerial drones and ground robots, as a way to reduce exposure of personnel. UGVs are particularly useful in areas where vehicles cannot safely operate and where even short movements can be targeted. Unlike aerial drones, ground robots can carry heavy loads, making them critical for sustaining frontline positions. Kyiv Post recently gained exclusive access to a secret workshop run by the Khartiia Brigade, where soldiers build unmanned ground vehicles by hand. In a previous report, a Kyiv Post journalist also operated these systems on camera , demonstrating how different types of UGVs are used on the battlefield. Kateryna investigates today's most important topics, from geopolitical challenges and defense strategies to stories that change the course of events. She explores the secrets of Ukraine's intelligence services and shows the hidden side of global events. Her passion is uncovering secrets that change history. Born and lives in Kyiv.