In a speech on Monday, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that an “enemy position has been exclusively taken by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones” for the first time in history. He made the announcement at the Ukrainian defense industrial and technological base (BITD), saying, “The occupants surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side.” No details of the mission have leaked – neither from the General Staff nor the press. However, since 2025, several tracked ground robots have been seen in several videos. Originally, they were refueling the most advanced and vulnerable positions to drones – which constantly monitor the front line.
Since the beginning of the year, 32,500 missions have been carried out by ground robots, mainly for refueling, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on April 7. This number is expected to increase significantly.
[Context: Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement highlights the increasing role of unmanned platforms in military operations.] [Fact Check: The presence of ground robots in military operations is noteworthy, signaling a shift towards autonomous warfare.]
