Ukraine is actively integrating robotics into its military, with plans to deploy 15,000 unmanned systems to the front by 2025, said Hlib Kanievskyi, head of Defense Ministry’s procurement department, in an interview with Ekonomichna Pravda.
Thousands more systems are being supplied by volunteers and private companies.
“We delivered hundreds of robots to the front in 2024. We plan to deliver thousands [more] in 2025,” said Maksym Vasylenko, director of Tencore, a Ukrainian technology company that specializes in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Almost all of these robots will be produced in Ukraine, as foreign models are significantly more expensive, the above-mentioned ministry said.
The main goal is to replace soldiers with robots in the most dangerous areas of the frontline.
“Mastering this new type of weapon is happening at every level: in battle, frontline workshops, defense industry factories, volunteer hubs, and government offices,” the Ekonomichna Pravda report states.
Ukraine’s 13th National Guard Brigade, Khartiia, deployed dozens of drones and combat robots against Russian forces simultaneously in December 2024. The military unit is one of Ukraine’s most technologically advanced and is known for its intellectual, integrative leadership during military operations.
“One day, this will be remembered as one of the first fully robotized operations,” journalists wrote.
The report notes that the potential use of robots in combat directly correlates with the creative level of engineers.
“Soldiers equip them with turrets, use them as kamikaze drones, transport cargo, deploy electronic warfare systems, [and] evacuate the wounded. Robots mine, clear mines, lay barbed wire, set enemy positions on fire, and can even be fitted with air defense systems,” the report states.
Additionally, defense companies have been required to improve their products throughout the contract process, as battlefield technology is evolving rapidly.
Read the full article, “Ukraine robotizes its military: how an army of 15,000 ground drones Will replace soldiers on the frontline,” via this link.
Photos: Ekonomichna Pravda
