Ukrainian forces have successfully carried out their first ground assault using only robotic systems and drones, according to a statement by Sergeant Volodymyr Dehtiarov of the Khartiia Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard. 

Dehtiarov said the operation took place near the village of Lyptsi in the Kharkiv region and involved a coordinated use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and first-person view (FPV) drones. 

Dehtiarov did not confirm the exact date of the attack but described it as a major step in utilizing advanced technology to address manpower challenges on the battlefield.

The operation reportedly utilized “dozens” of robotic units, including ground vehicles equipped with machine guns, kamikaze drones, and surveillance systems. Ground robots cleared paths, laid mines, and attacked Russian positions, while flying drones conducted reconnaissance and delivered explosives.

Ukraine has increasingly relied on technology to counter its numerical disadvantage against Russian forces. In the area around Lyptsi, the 13th National Guard Brigade faces a force ratio of about 2,000 Ukrainian troops to 6,000 Russian troops.

⚡️🇺🇦Ukrainian development of a self-propelled robot machine gun with remote control that is being tested on a training ground. pic.twitter.com/SJiZYrb6M0

— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) May 7, 2023

The Ministry of Defense has codified and approved for operation the Ukrainian robotic combat complex on a tracked platform equipped with a Browning 12.7 mm machine gun – the Droid TW 12.7.https://t.co/hakMtfwd65 pic.twitter.com/bOBKVP9SI7

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) December 9, 2024

Ukrainian ground robot, supported by a mortar, fires a 7.62-mm machine gun at a Russian position in the Kursk region

Result, part of the enemy was destroyed, the rest fled. The robot received several RPG and FPV hits, however, survived, completed the task and returned to recover pic.twitter.com/8to0x7fPOj

— Charlie (@Acuteremod) September 19, 2024

A report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) described the contrasting approaches of the two sides: ‘Ukrainian officials have highlighted efforts to leverage technological innovations and asymmetric strike capabilities to compensate for manpower shortages, while Russia has accepted unsustainable casualty rates in pursuit of marginal territorial gains.'”

Russia’s losses are estimated to exceed 750,000 personnel since its invasion began in February 2022, according to Ukrainian and U.K. sources. However, Russia continues to make gains in regions like Donetsk, placing further pressure on Ukrainian forces.