Ukraine’s armed forces carried out more than 9,000 missions using uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) in March alone, marking a sharp rise from roughly 2,900 operations in November 2025, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
UGVs are remotely operated wheeled systems that can navigate rugged terrain. The Ministry of Defense said these robots now handle ammunition delivery, resupply, and casualty evacuation in the most dangerous frontline areas.
To launch drones into high-risk zones, a staging area and personnel on the front line were always required. The Ukrainian autonomous ground vehicle ULTRA from Overland AI allows the Armed Forces of Ukraine to deploy drones without having soldiers present on the front line. pic.twitter.com/qmKRFQv17c
— распад и неуважение (@VictorKvert2008) April 1, 2026
“In total, UGVs carried out roughly 24,500 missions in the first three months of this year,” the ministry said. The number of units using UGVs has also increased to 167, up from 67 last year.
🚨🇺🇦 Ukraine has deployed ground unmanned vehicles (UGVs) to the battlefield, pushing modern warfare into a new phase.
These robotic vehicles operate without crews, handling combat, reconnaissance, and logistics missions while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way. pic.twitter.com/Ia8ZCooO1S
— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) January 24, 2026
Ukraine’s First Separate Medical Battalion reported completing six casualty evacuation missions in a single day using UGVs.
In a statement cited by Ukrainian defense outlet Oboronka, the unit described a day of close coordination with nearby forces, careful route planning, and continuous remote monitoring of the wounded. Two unmanned ground systems traveled a combined 300 kilometers (186 miles) to evacuate casualties, though the specific type of platform was not disclosed.
“6 successful missions, the result of which is saved lives. People who will be able to return home to their families,” the battalion said.
An example of how technologies save lives. A wounded soldier from the 59th Brigade STEPOVI KHIZHAKI was evacuated by the “ZMIY Logistic” UGV by a Brave1 member Rovertech. The robot withstood hits from 5.45mm bullets, 152mm shell explosions, a mine, and an FPV drone attack. pic.twitter.com/0EQu3PJxSf
— BRAVE1 (@BRAVE1ua) October 15, 2025
Earlier accounts detailed how Libertas Battalion soldiers, alongside the First Separate Medical Battalion, spent two days evacuating a critically wounded soldier from Kostiantynivka using UGVs, all while under constant FPV drone attacks.
The First Separate Medical Battalion also employed a UGV to evacuate a Ukrainian infantryman who was suspected of having a stroke while on a frontline position.
Earlier, Andrii Biletsky, commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, said that ground robotic systems could take over up to one-third of Ukrainian infantry along the front lines.
Biletsky has previously called ground robotic systems a coming battlefield “revolution,” noting that dense drone surveillance and highly contested logistics have made frontline resupply and movement exceptionally challenging.
