Ukraine uses remote-controlled ground robots to reduce losses and reclaim land

The remotely controlled ground robots play an increasingly important role for Ukraine's defense. They shoot at the enemy and rescue wounded soldiers - and have contributed to Ukraine's success in regaining large areas of land.

- They have made the war safer for us soldiers, says Commander Darwin to The Telegraph.

The unmanned vehicles, UGVs, are propelled forward on wheels or tracks and often have logistical missions, such as delivering food and ammunition to the front. Some, like those handled by Darwin's group, are loaded with explosives or machine guns.

In recent months, Ukraine has developed a new way to maximize the use of robots. By attaching them under drones, they have managed to fly the robots in far behind enemy lines.

Ukrainian units estimate that the robots have thus contributed to killing around 3,000 Russian soldiers and reclaiming 124 square kilometers of land in Ukraine. The operations have taken place within the framework of an offensive called "Operation Vivaldi".

At one point, the robots were flown nearly 20 kilometers beyond the front line, soldiers told The Telegraph. Once on the ground, the robots have carried out attacks on the enemy.

It can happen immediately or a few days later.

- It's like putting out a little hide and seek. The advantage is that you can find a target and choose whether you want to attack it directly or use the hide, says defense expert Johan Huovinen.

In just a few years, operations with remote-controlled ground robots have gone from being tested sporadically to being carried out in the thousands.

- The drone knows no fear and unlike humans, we are not afraid of losing it, says Darwin.

Ukraine aims to replace ground troops with robots and drones in a third of frontline operations this year, CNN reported this spring. One hundred percent of all logistical tasks must be carried out by robots.

But the operations entail major challenges. To lift a remote-controlled ground robot, which is also loaded with explosives, a powerful aerial drone is required. One such is difficult to get into the air without being detected. The Ukrainian soldiers are monitored by Russian drones almost all the time.

- We use electronic warfare to blind their drones so they can't see what we're doing every second, says Darwin to The Telegraph.

Johan Huovinen believes that people in Ukraine are increasingly striving for a non-contact war. The army is outnumbered against Russia and vulnerable to losses.

- Ukraine works according to that concept because it has a different way of thinking than what the Russian side has. They try to get machines to do the work instead of humans, so losses can be kept down, he says.